On Saturday morning I was doing Saturday chores, i.e. cleaning the cat litter box. Spraying the hose into the box outside the back door, I heard a loud buzzing sound and looked up. The nearest tree is a sweet olive and when blooming, it often attracts bees. But the tree was not in bloom, and the bees were flying beyond it.
My husband, back from his morning run, thought perhaps they were in the shrubs. He walked around the carport to investigate.
“The bees are on the move!” he exclaimed.
It was an amazing sight. Bees flying everywhere and a huge cluster buzzing up high in the tree.
I took a video, of course. (I couldn’t get it to play in the blog.) I texted a few friends who keep bees, but the swarm was too high to be reached.
“They are God’s bees,” Jeff said.
God’s bees are God knows where now, but I was curious about what a swarm means.
From this source, thanks to a Google search, I learned that bee swarms occur when a colony has outgrown its space. It is a normal, natural occurrence that should not be disturbed. The bees in a swarm are not as defensive and will not sting as readily. My friend, Jim, said they are docile and fairly easy to catch and move to a container hive.
We have been experiencing an early spring this year. The temperatures are not significantly higher, but my azaleas are already blooming and the wood ducks are laying eggs in the wood duck house. We set up the Ring camera again this year and have been watching.
Nature seems to know something I don’t know.
Please visit my blog post from yesterday about David Harrison’s book After Dark that releases today. The publisher is offering a book giveaway.
Reflections on the Teche 
Bees – wow. Hardly seems possible that it should be time. Interesting fact about them outgrowing their space. I have to tell you that “bees on the move” made me think of “Aslan on the move.” Real spring … full of promise. Those glorious azaleas seem to know.
Love all stories about bees. I’ve never seen a swarm.
That swarm of bees is something else. I am impressed with the picture alone (and I was lucky enough to catch your video on-line). Just – wow! Nature really does know what she is doing, doesn’t she? So glad you were able to see this phenomenon.
I saw and listened to your bee video, and it was amazing. I can only imagine the sound in real life. I did not know that bees in a swarm will not typically sting. I love it when I learn something new.
Whoa! Those bees are quite a site! What a fascinating thing to see. I think I might have been just a wee bit thankful that they were lingering high up! Enjoy your beautiful spring. I’m excited about the wood duck action!