Been watching bees flying to and from 
the bee tree .5 mile behind the house.

Short Video:
http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n237/FeralBeeProject/?action=view&current=Bee\
tree2011.mp4

I never notice these bees doing 
any orientation flights, instead, they 
exit and fly straight up to one 
of two openings in the tree tops,
that are over 60 feet in height.

The bees return to the hive using
one of these two openings.  It is
logical that they do this, due to
the hazards posed in traversing 
through the canopy of branches,
spiderwebs etc.

The question arises, are they
orientating to the opening in
the canopy, perhaps doing a
few orientation circles above 
this opening?  OR is orientation
to the tree cavity?  OR is there no
need for orientation flights when
leaving home base? 

The bees have to know where
this opening is located, they need
to know where to enter.  So I'm
suspecting some type of orientation
is going on above the canopy.

If they are doing orientation circles 
above the canopy, then would directional 
coordinates communicated in dances
be using the canopy opening as
a starting point and not hive location?

Any manuscripts related to orientation
would be greatly appreciated.

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle 

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