And so it came to pass. The swarm was about 4m high in the middle of the overhanging branches of a wild cherry tree. Unfortunately, this wild cherry stood right in the middle of a hedgerow and unfortunately this hedgerow was completely overgrown. A paradise for wildlife, hell for beekeepers.
Mission briefing. I need suggestions!
- Ladder? No space to set it up!
- Helicopter? All in Afghanistan at the moment!
- Phaser weapons? Not sufficiently tested!
- Ladder? We already had that. Simply too dangerous!
- Abort the action? Nonsense!
- Ladder? Whatever, let’s try it!
So the ladder. Veeeeery carefully pushed the thing at an angle under the bees against the sun over the hedgerow to the only thin brittle branch. Spray bottle loaded and Niels sent ahead. “Go on up and try it. Give it plenty of water!”. No chance! Everything full of twigs in the way which kept getting caught in the veil. Abort the action? Nonsense!
New attempt. Move the ladder and arm my son with the garden shears. Hours later – the swarm moves within reach. Now plenty of water!
So far so good. The bees now know what water is, adrenaline is at maximum for us. I notice it’s slowly getting to me. So son, let dad have a go. Cardboard box in hand and up the ladder. It’ll hold…
Cardboard box under the bees and shake. Super – it’s raining bees! – Bees in the box, bees on the ladder, bees under my veil, bees… ahhh how are they getting under my veil???? Should I have zipped it up? Yes, I should have. aaaaaaahhhhhhh – they’re not stinging, they’re not stinging, they’re not stinging… I think the words like a meditation – my life flashes before me as a film… I climb very slowly down the ladder, hand Tobias the box and carefully speak the words “I need some HEEEEELLLPPP”.
They really aren’t stinging! At least not when they’re not completely wedged under my beekeeper suit in the sleeve… One sting during the action is a good cut, right??
Now I’m going to skip a few ladder rungs, water, shake and all that.
Continue the drive home. Wet bees in a wet cardboard box. Normally that should have made me think. But in swarm fever, thinking shuts down. And so it happened. On the last turn before home, the box collapses. Good thing we still have the protective suit on. Up to the parking lot, veil off, get the hive and in with the girls. Excluder on, entrance closed, lid on with a gap open. Wait. By 9:00 PM all the little bees were in the box.
Now everyone in our neighborhood knows we keep bees and are bloody (well, stung) beginners.
Tonight the little ones get to take their first flight.