swarm-list Mailing List: Fwd: External hive on tree limb in Pleasanton at Inklings Tea and Coffee shop, 530 Main Street, Pleasanton. Caller reported a cluster of bees on a tree behind the shop on a branch about 15-20 ft high. The following video and still photo

[Pamela Weimer (pamela.weimer]

Forgot to include the photo...here it is!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Pamela Weimer <pamela.weimer [at] gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 27, 2024 at 2:04 PM
Subject: External hive on tree limb in Pleasanton at Inklings Tea and Coffee shop, 530 Main Street, Pleasanton. Caller reported a cluster of bees on a tree behind the shop on a branch about 15-20 ft high. The following video and still photo
To: ACBA Swarmlist <swarm-list [at] alamedabees.org>

show that the "cluster" is an established colony with at least 3 lobes of comb hanging down from a horizontal limb out over the back driveway into a rear parking area.

They would like to have someone come and take a look at the situation and determine what it will take to remove it.  They can close off that particular driveway  so the beekeeper can work without cars being in the way.

It is not possible to keep the colony in place as there are more than one business using the area and she said there were bees all over the place.

I told the caller that while swarms are free, this appears to be an extraction of sorts and likely a cost involved in the removal.  

The colony will need to be removed, one lobe at a time and rubber-banded into empty deep frames and transferred to a hive box.  This being done at 15-20 ft may require scaffolding or at least substantial ladders. If the lobes have cross bracing burr comb it might be possible to shave off the entire colony at once into a large box and bring it down in one piece so that it is easier to transfer the lobes to frames on the ground, but one would need to go out there and inspect the comb to make a plan.

If you feel that you are up for this adventure, please reach out to:

Katie Baker

Inkling Coffee and Tea

530 Main Street (entrance to the driveway is behind the shop on Railroad)

(925-321-2402

Please let me know if you plan on reaching out to Katie.  I think documenting the process would be a great thing for the club to have...similar to the Paseo Padre colony but not over a busy street!!

--

Pamela Weimer

(510) 390-6291

Urban Beekeeper

Retired Teacher and Coach

--

Pamela Weimer

(510) 390-6291

Urban Beekeeper

Retired Teacher and Coach

Attachment: Pleasanton tree hive.jpeg
Description: JPEG image