> I do know that WIND presents a challenge to forager bees, as does heavy
 > rain.  Windy sites have reduced flight hours as evidenced by our
 > bidirectional bee counters.

I see that also with my hive scale.

Something I wonder: is it the wind in the bee yard that decides, or is 
it the
wind out in the fields that matters most -- or do the bees go by how 
hard it
is to make the entire trip?

 >  ...simply facing the hive  entrance
 > towards the sunrise will change time of initiation of foraging by  
approximately
 > 30 minutes to one hour compared to bees from hives facing away from the
 > sun.

Raising the hives a foot or more off the ground has a positive effect in 
getting
the bees going earlier, too.  It is cold on the ground in the morning.  
A bonus is
that the height discourages skunks, and another is that brood chamber work
is more pleasant.

A disadvantage, though, is that the top boxes are harder to reach at 
harvest time.

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