Honey Bee Swarm - Bees of British Columbia

Not far from Tofino we have an apple orchard. We were there checking out the growing apples when we heard a buzzing and looked up to see this swarm of bees. It was the first time we had seen this and it is quite a sight. There is no hive in these photos they show bees upon bees in one of the apple trees. A while later the bees took flight and the air was full of buzzing bees. What an incredible experience to witness this migrating swarm.
The bees in the apple tree.	This was an unusually large swarm of bees.
The bees take flight.	The air was full of bees.

Some interesting notes about Honey Bees
- Honey bees are furry, their fur helps keep them warm over winter.
- Swarming is an instinctive part of the annual life cycle of a honey bee colony.
- The swarm is made up of drones, workers and the queen.
- When migrating to look for new digs, bees are loaded with honey and rarely sting.
  Honey bees are defensive only near the nest to protect their young ones and the food supply.
- The best place for a new hive is in a cavity somewhere, such as in an old tree.
- Honey bees are beneficial pollinators and beautiful creatures.

Bees of British Columbia

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