Crocus: Bee Magnets

Despite temps in the 40s and some wind, the girls were out foraging this week. The crocus blooming in the front yard were especially popular, sometimes entertaining two bees at a time! The bees didn't seem to mind me snapping some close-ups.

You Call This Spring?

Yesterday was the first day of spring, but you'd never know it. We had wind, sun and thunderstorms yesterday and it was snowing this afternoon! My poor bees. It's still below freezing at night but it's supposed to warm up next week.
Amazingly, I see lots of bee activity as soon as there's a break in the clouds and the sun hits the hives. They're still collecting water like crazy. I seriously wonder if they're just trying to look busy. Is the queen saying "get out of here and don't come back empty-handed!"?
There's just not much for them to forage now: crocuses, filberts, and a few random early bulbs. But I do have two dandelions blooming in the backyard. A sign of good days ahead for the girls!

Thirsty Bees

What's new in the bee yard? I checked on the hives a couple of days ago to take off the entrance reducers and give them pollen patties. They're getting pollen from the filberts and pussy willows but the weather is still so variable (sun, rain, snow, wind...) that they don't have consistent access to it so a pollen patty is a little insurance until spring really is here. When the dandelions are blooming, they'll be really happy but that will probably be another month.
Cam's hive looks pretty good, about 6 frames covered with bees and the dysentery seems to be gone. Toby's hive seems to be going crazy! That queen has been laying and the population is exploding. I have to make sure they don't eat all of their honey. When I took the top box off, bees just started pouring out from the inner cover hole. So many that I couldn't put the box back on without squishing a bunch so I left it off. I think that hive will want to swarm if I don't split it next month. I need to research that.
The bees are collecting lots of water for some reason. The two pie pans I set out are covered with dozens of bees so I added a third. I don't know what they need all that water for. Are they just bored? Thirsty? Foragers with no nectar to collect? I have no idea.

Spring is Coming!

It's only about a week until spring and the bees are so active! It's great to see, especially Cam's hive. The dysentery seems to be improving and there's less smell. I've peeked until the covers a couple of times and both hives have 6-7 frames of bees as well as capped honey still in reserve. The weights are going down quickly though. I'm assuming they're raising more brood and consuming a lot more honey and pollen now. Both hives have lost almost half their weight compared with January.
The pollen is coming in though! I think it just started: the filbert tree right behind the hives is covered with catkins that have light yellow pollen. The weather has been in the 50s during the day so lots of bulbs are coming up. I saw pussy willows blooming down the street and my snow drops started in late Feb.
I renewed my apiary registration with the state this week. Our second year class starts this week and I can't wait. I think I've already read about a third of the 'Hive and the Honey Bee' text. I have so many questions! When to take off the entrance reducers? When/if to feed pollen patties? When/how to start mite management (powdered sugar?) and measurement? Whether to make a split and/or start a nuc? I made up a preliminary spreadsheet to get organized but it needs some fine-tuning. I'm hoping that keeping good records will serve in future years.