FWIW, since roughly 70% of all hives in the U.S. are taken to California
for almond pollination,
one of the best indicators of colony loss is the supply of bees available
at the beginning of bloom (now).

The reports that I'm hearing are that there are plently of colonies for
rent.  Granted, many of those hives were moved to preferred wintering
locations or shed wintered.  But the strong supply suggests that winter
losses this season were not devastating across the board.

--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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