Our friend Phil in a tree.
Three of our hives came from swarms. This one was small, the size of a partially deflated volleyball. Phil and his bucket volunteered to climb up and coax it down. After a week or so the bees abandoned the hive and went right back up to the same limb. Phil climbed again.
They eventually settled into their new home, and we were able to move them to our farm. They're a productive hive, but they're very grumpy. They go out of their way to find bare patches of skin. We're contemplating regime change (replacing the Queen).
