We run between 2-8 hives in south central Missouri- nothing but woods, rocks and hilly pastures (no row crops) and we also have two poles of purple martin gourds/houses (about 18 pairs) about 1/8 mile from the bee yard.  Bees are located at the edge of the woods, martins are near the center of 14 open acres.  If I find queen cells I like to try to make a nuc, but dang it all- I have YET to get a queen to return/begin to lay after she has hatched.

I saw that in 2007 the Bee-L had a couple comments on martins.  Is it true?  Is a mating flight then not unlike a baitball of sardines in the ocean, calling in the purple "predators?"

Love the martins, love the bees...  Am I to just keep the queen breeders in business?

Mary Jane
37.03N, 92.34W

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