The Old Drone's wisdom and knowledge is so true; the bloom of the maple is
indeed the big kickoff of spring. And, the end of the maple bloom very
often does bring about a period of nectar dearth unless the weather is kind
with warm sunny days bringing forth a continuation from the maple bloom to
the main honey flow. But sadly, often there is a period of nectar dearth at
the end of the maple bloom; and, at times strong healthy hives will die
from overextending themselves raising their brood. There are also periods
of nectar dearth during the maple bloom caused by weather that is just as
devastating to the colony and the beekeeper.

February, March and April bring shorter nights and longer days of gradually
increasing temperatures leading to shirtsleeve weather followed by long
periods of cold or cool, inclement and unsettled weather. The influx of
stores and activity generated by several days of increased temperatures
with good flying will stimulate a crescendo of laying by the queen. During
this time over most of eastern North America if not the entire Northern
Hemisphere the natural progression of weather is a Cold front followed by
High Pressure followed by a Cold front.  The High-pressure area first
brings cold dry air from the north followed by warm southerly winds as the
center of the High drifts east. Days become warmer with more southerly
winds until again a Cold front approaches which likely brings precipitation
in the form of rain, ice, sleet, or snow, and cold overcast weather. Often
the weather will keep bees from flying for as much as a week or longer. If
the weather keeps the bees from flying then great reserves of pollen,
nectar, and honey will be consumed in order to feed brood and heat the
increased area of comb covered by the brood.  In just a few days what was
once a heavy hive will be light. Knowing just how much stores are in your
hives is of utmost importance.  A strong hive that is raising brood can
consume five or more pounds of honey in a day; that's 35 pounds or more in
a week! That's why it might be best to check your hives for weight at least
once a week or more often in times of cold and unsettled weather after the
red maple has begun to bloom.

The Bee-List archives, http://listserv.albany.edu:8080/cgi-bin/wa?S1=bee-l
and Allen Dick's website, http://www.honeybeeworld.com both have extensive
information on the supplemental feeding of honeybees.   IMHO feeding inside
the hive is the most efficient and prudent method of supplemental feeding.
Food needs to be in close proximity to the cluster in order for the bees to
use it; syrup or dry pollen substitute placed outside the hive but within
the beeyard will instill robbing. When syrup or dry pollen substitute is
placed in a feeding station farther than about 100 meters from the yard
bees will treat the feeding station as a natural food source and be less
inclined to rob other hives within an apiary; however, more energy is
expended in retrieving these stores than if they were placed within the
hive.  The feeding station is open to feral hives as well which not only
can lead to transfer of disease, but further reduce the efficiency of
feeding.

I was not able to read Mr. Green's posting until I had returned home from a
daytrip the following day to Smithfield, North Carolina, about 135 miles or
so as the crow flies north from his home in the midlands of the Coastal
Plain of South Carolina. While in Smithfield I had searched judiciously for
the maple bloom, only when I had traveled down the road some 40 miles south
to my alma mater in a little place called Buie's Creek did I observe just a
very few blossoms unfolded only upon one branch of many maple trees.
Spring is slow to come to the Carolinas this year, I hope that my own bees
and yours are doing ok.

Chuck Norton
Reidsville, NC
(Where it is 22 degrees on a Sunday afternoon with sleet and freezing rain)

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