I wonder if drumming slowly on the outside of the metal column would help bring them out? Along with the bee quick. Just a thought.
I have been over and over this situation with several beekeepers including JP. I spoke with the maintenance guy at the hospital and the options are so, so limited.
They will not let me set up a catch box
They will not let me drill any holes in the metal column
They will not let me have any time to figure out something else.
I cannot do anything that would destroy hospital property
The bees are flying all over the place and patients are walking by that walkway all day long.
Even though the drumming would disturb them I don't believe they would leave the brood for any period of time. It might even piss them off if they have to run out because of it. But I believe they would go right back in. The bee quick from what I am reading is only good if you get up behind them or beneath them, but still have to have a catch box when they run out. (from JP)
I am done with this hive. They plan on exterminating them.
But something very funny happened today. The hospital called Orkin Pest Control to remove the bees and somehow Orkin gave them my phone number. I don't know how Orkin got my phone number "They asked me if this was "El Dorado Swarm" Maybe they got my number off the beemaster bee removal map.
They are having trouble finding someone to even exterminate them.