But if you calculate the daily weight loss, it becomes quite apparent that something has happened. The weight loss is calculated as an average daily weight loss since the last weighing. If the time between weighing is long (several weeks) the results will be a poor guide to the activity in the hive. For practical reasons I do not expect to do measurements much more than once a week. The last point is an average of 6 days.
So what happened? Spring is on it way at it has been quite warm for the season. The bees are very active and while studying them I found that numerous bees were bringing home pollen. There is still not much flowers to live of so being active still means that the bees consume much more than they can bring home. But if the weather stays like this it will be a very early start of the season
The bottom of the hive was cleaned - not much was found - interestingly enough I found that several spiders had spend the winter below the bees. Nice and warm and protected from the bees by the bottom metal plate :o).
I lifted the frames a bit one by one to get an idea of how heavy they are. There are 10 frames in the hive and counting from the entrance, plate 1 and 2 were a bit heavy (pollen) 3-6 were quite light with 4 and 5 being the lightest. Frame 7-10 were all quite heavy (food stock). So for sure the bees have at least 5 frames of food (2 too much). I did not remove them since a turn in weather will put a stop on the activities and the bees will have to live of the stored food. But if the temperature stays well above freezing I will have to remove some frame to free space for the new generation of bees.
And last but not least.... I mowed the lawn (!?!). Not kidding - lawn moving 9 of March - must be a record. This was also Alexanders first visit to the garden :o). He is now almost 5 months
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