Hello All,
We made up over a hundred nucs from the Australian import today.
So will give brief summery and save the best for May ABJ article.

I found the bees mostly unremarkable (which is good!). Italian queens with a
very light yellow color.

I did like the organization of the hive as pollen, honey and brood were all
in the proper position.

I was very impressed with their calmness on the frames. Solid brood pattern.
Of the hives we looked at (around 150)  all but one queen was on the frame
she should should be on. We did see a little robbing trying to get started
in hives we had already worked so we moved our operations to the other end
of the holding yard in late afternoon.

 Typical Italian problem! Hive full of honey and wanting to rob the hive
next door!

All the hives had stored quite a bit of honey which I was somewhat puzzeled
by as I can't ever remember hives returning from almonds with so much stored
honey. Brood & pollen yes but not frames of stored honey.

I have got some excellent pictures of the Australian bees. many close ups.

Are other beekeepers on the list going through hives returning from almonds
seeing the same thing?

Bell Hill Honey  is traveling to western Kansas to off load another batch of
returning Australian package bees off a semi  and will return tomorrow
afternoon. It will be interesting to see what those bees look like.


Bob

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