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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