My hands are shaking, I'm soo excited! I just got my first swarm call, ever!
I signed up for the swarm call list at my beekeep assoc meeting just a few weeks ago. Today I get a call from Ian, a gentleman with the coolest Irish accent, who works for a company called "bee control". So he gets me in touch with a lady who lives about 30mins from my apartment.
She tells me that its about 3 feet off the ground, elongated 12-14 inchest, and currently about the size of a goodsize football players' arm - and GROWING. Ian told me that allot of the calls he recieved this season were "substatial" and without seeing it himself said that this one probobly would follow suit. Located on a branch of small tree near her house.
Anyway I've never done this before (obviously) and I still don't really have a place to keep the bees, so I'm a little nervous. Actually I still havn't recieved my bee jacket yet - crossing my fingers its at my apartment when I get off of work today.
I did buy 3 cardboard swarm boxes from mannlake but I need to get a stapler to put one together. I'll also need some kind of branch clippers and maybe a tarp to lay on the ground. So what should my plan be? I've watched allot of swarm videos, read up on it allot but if anyone has any last minet tips feel free to chime in.
I don't think I've seen people bring their smoker with them on swarm captures, but I'm not sure.
Obviously I don't really have a place to keep the bees just yet - My sneaky plan was to put them on my balcony at the apartment, its covered and the from the floor up it's solid so no-one could see whats on the ground, or slightly above it. Thinking it would be better to ask forgivness if the issue comes up. If it really becomes a problem my mentor lives a few miles down the road and I don't think he would object to housing my bees for a while...On mothersday I asked my girlfriends dad and grandfather if either of them would mind me keeping bees at their palce till we got a house of our own..still waiting on a response. Her grandfathers place would be perfect tho he has a bear problem and her dad is caring for her niece @ 5years old, at his house. Both an hour away from my place.
Its 10:30 now I can't wait until tonight! I told her I'd try to be at her house by 6:30 I most certainly will take pic's and video, can't wait to share with my friends at beemaster!
Hands still Shaking, this is it!