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One of our zookeepers has taken on the task of maintaining the honeybee hives. She invited staff to come see inside the hives. (This was taken afterward.)
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One of our zookeepers has taken on the task of maintaining the honeybee hives. She invited staff to come see inside the hives. (This was taken afterward.)
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3:00 snapshot #1018
Jul. 7th, 2012 07:58 am
Visiting the bees.
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Five years ago today, I arrived in Honolulu apparently. Oh the next few of these will make me sad.
100,000 new animals at the zoo
Apr. 15th, 2012 03:06 pm
I can't tell you what zoo, but one zoo that I frequent recently received a shipment of 10 x 10,000 honeybees, which are being carefully dumped into their 10 hives in the photo above. It's unclear to me exactly why this was done, since the honeybees are not on exhibit. But it was kind of those involved to contact me, since they know I like insects.
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(I observed this behavior myself, last week)
Bees and Bird Feeders
During the winter and early spring before the flowers are blooming, if temperatures reach 60 or above for a day or two, an interesting behavior takes place among populations of honeybees. Dozens, and occasionally hundreds of bees descend on backyard bird feeders filled with birdseed mixtures that contain millet, which, like pollen, is yellow. If people are able to view the bees up close, they report that the bees are continually moving the millet around with their front legs.
Bee experts believe that the warm temperatures trick the bees into leaving their hives to look for pollen. The bees search for pollen, which is also yellow, but, of course, none is available during the winter. They are attracted to the yellow millet and, believing that it’s pollen, use their front legs to try to maneuver the “pollen” into the pollen baskets on their hind legs.
There is no reason for concern, the bees will return to their hive when the temperature returns to normal and the birds will return to the feeder.
(composed by Linda Cocca, Massachusetts Audubon Wildlife Help Line.)
Bees and Bird Feeders
During the winter and early spring before the flowers are blooming, if temperatures reach 60 or above for a day or two, an interesting behavior takes place among populations of honeybees. Dozens, and occasionally hundreds of bees descend on backyard bird feeders filled with birdseed mixtures that contain millet, which, like pollen, is yellow. If people are able to view the bees up close, they report that the bees are continually moving the millet around with their front legs.
Bee experts believe that the warm temperatures trick the bees into leaving their hives to look for pollen. The bees search for pollen, which is also yellow, but, of course, none is available during the winter. They are attracted to the yellow millet and, believing that it’s pollen, use their front legs to try to maneuver the “pollen” into the pollen baskets on their hind legs.
There is no reason for concern, the bees will return to their hive when the temperature returns to normal and the birds will return to the feeder.
(composed by Linda Cocca, Massachusetts Audubon Wildlife Help Line.)
