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ocba - Re: [ocba] swarm 100ft in air up for grabs

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Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers

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  • From: Randall Austin <ra41717 AT gmail.com>
  • To: Jeff Bollinger <jeff.bollinger AT gmail.com>
  • Cc: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] swarm 100ft in air up for grabs
  • Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:34:09 -0400

Jeff,

"Tanging" is an age-old method for catching swarms. It isn't supposed to actually work but it's one of those things that is worth a try. The idea is to beat sticks, whack a tree trunk, etc. in order to make a slow rhythmic "boom, boom, boom". If you are lucky the swarm will settle near the ground.

Once I had a swarm that was swirling high in the air, clearly ready to take off for who-knows-where. I took a couple of trash can lids and banged them together for minute or so. The swarm ceased swirling and settled near the ground, making them easy to capture.

I've also done the same thing in similar circumstances and the swarm didn't pay any attention, taking off for a new life elsewhere.

Probably the most important effect is that it makes you feel that you are "doing something". But I still think it is worth a try!

Randall Austin



On 4/5/2012 11:06 AM, Jeff Bollinger wrote:
Its been there since yesterday afternoon - it sat WAY up in the tree,
even through some heavy thunderstorms, and has been there all night. If
you think you can get it safely, come on over - email me for my phone
number. In Efland, just south of 85.

Randall - we were remembering you saying something before about thunder
maybe triggering a swarm? Or something about mimicking thunder to get
them back into the hive? Are we crazy or did you mention something
about that before at a meeting?

Jeff
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