It’s not just us:
This spring in New York City, clumps of homeless bees have turned up, often in inconvenient public places, at nearly double the rate of past years. A warm winter followed by an early spring, experts say, has created optimal breeding conditions.
More at the New York Times.
Board member Lee Berman sent in these photos from last Thursday’s bee extraction in the playground next to building 2. Beekeepers suited up, raised themselves into the tree, and guided the swarm into safe and productive captivity. These bees now head to a farm where they’ll happily make honey far away from our children.
Despite the memo earlier this week assuring us that the bees behind building 2 had all moved on, bees continue to have a large presence in a tree right in the middle of the playground.
It turns out this isn’t really as dangerous as it looks. Apparently it’s common in the spring for a hive’s second queen bee to leave the hive with some percentage of worker bees and drones to look for a place to build a new hive. These bees will swarm, usually huddling around a tree branch or something similar, while scouts are sent out looking for an appropriate tree hollow or other protected area. During this time, the bees have no food or young to protect, so are very unlikely to exhibit any defensive behavior — i.e., they’re probably not going to sting anyone.
Nevertheless, having the swarm right in the middle of he playground is obviously not ideal. And since those bees are actually very valuable, it’s easy to find a beekeeper willing to come lure the swarm away. (In fact, it looks like that’s what’s happening down there right now.)
TO: ALL COOPERATORS/ EAST RIVER HOUSING
FROM: MANAGEMENTRE: PARK REOPENED BEHIND 577 GRAND ST.
DUE TO A RECENT INFESTATION OF BEES THIS PAST WEEKEND WE WERE FORCED TO CLOSE THE PARK BEHIND BLDG. 2 AT 577 GRAND STREET.
WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THE BEES HAVE MOVED ON AND WE ARE REOPENING THE PARK IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE CANCELED THE BEEKEEPER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
So the “infestation” has moved on? Maybe not such a big problem to begin with? Does anyone have any more information about this — was closing the courtyard just an overreaction, or is there still a hive hiding out somewhere?
We’re losing our parks left and right! Not only is the north courtyard now closed because of inspection and maintenance on buildings 3 and 4, but the south courtyard is closed after many cooperators noticed an unusual activity of bees:
TO: ALL COOPERATORS/ EAST RIVER HOUSING
FROM: MANAGEMENTRE: PARK CLOSURE BEHIND 577 GRAND ST. / BEES!!!
DUE TO A SERIOUS BEE PROBLEM BEHIND BLDG. 2 AT 577 GRAND STREET IN THE PLAYGROUND AREA, THE PARK WILL HAVE TO BE CLOSED UNTIL A BEEKEEPER ARRIVES EARLY NEXT WEEK TO REMOVE THE HIVE.
THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY PARENTS, WHO SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL WITH THEIR CHILDREN DURING THE WEEKEND, UNTIL THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED.
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