more tales from the front

After murdering a few chickadees  I was able 
to get a better idea of the mortality (snow is useful)

It is odd to go to the yard when it is -4C,grey sky and see 3-4 bees 
in the air before you even get there

About 1/4 of the hives are restless, these leak the most bees
Perhaps not an excessive amount if there are no bodies within
(>50, <200/d)

1/4 of the hives are properly dormant, no apparent leakage,
no bees at entrance

The rest leak less (10-20/d), are less restless

All these flights are one way, I don't think I saw any returns

There was  a normal amount of spotting in the snow

Only 2 have dysentery, both are nucs in same box
The worst I didn't expect would survive the winter last fall
(it was the "hard luck nuc" last summer
It lost 2 virgins in a row + other mishaps
Regularly 1/3 of the virgins disappear at day 10 or so,
likely lost to birds or dragonflies.  It is most annoying)

But I digress. The point is that nosema does not seem
to be a factor, at least there is little dysentery

I continue to be disappointed that the dozen or more
of you reading this that have ccd, KNOW that you have ccd,
continue to be silent.

We NEED an anonymous post here (heavily moderated)
Maybe this would make no difference, but see groklaw
(where it does)

As to proof -- these are just observations, which you
must have before you can ask any questions, let alone
the right ones.  In the spirit of Huber.

dave

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