Thats a good article on your website Dave.All beginning beekeepers should
check it out,and the old timers should too just to remind yourself of what
happens when you try to skimp on feed.
 Hefting the back of the hives to check weight is OK but opening the hive
to verify the actual amount in the combs on the ones that seem a little
light will be better.
 In California right now,the almonds have finished blooming.If the hives
were good going in they had enough good weather this year to pick up some
weight,but some of that weight is brood so be careful.Of course the
marginal pollinators are probably light and may starve if the weather turns
rainy for very long.In California you can get Drivert sugar from Dadant and
can keep the bees from starving by just pouring it in .The bees wont waste
it.Most Ca. beekeepers feed syrup with a gallon can set on a hole drilled
in the lid ,or use an inside feeder.
 Overfeeding is a waste,but underfed hives will cut back on broodraising
in order to conserve,depending on the strain of bee.Some dark strains are
so conservative they will never starve,but also wont build up in time to
ever gather much more than a minimum surplus.On the other hand you have
certain very prolific yellow types that seem to enjoy living on the edge
and will commit every drop of honey to brood rearing.This type will starve
15 minutes after it starts raining ,with 15 lbs of bees in the hive(ok,Im
exagerrating a little)I think the best bee is somewhere in between,like
mostly Italian with some Carn mixed in.JMHO
----Mike