tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319169279203223305.post1137225801177204622..comments2023-10-25T07:15:41.952-04:00Comments on Mark's Bees!: A moment of silence: Carrying away the dead...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319169279203223305.post-25566705715268022172010-01-03T15:36:43.303-05:002010-01-03T15:36:43.303-05:00Hi Mark. I love the poem. I was trying to rememb...Hi Mark. I love the poem. I was trying to remember while reading your post what the expected "winter kill" rates would be. I think the norm (before all the pests and problems) was 15% to 25% but last year it was closer to 37% - but even that was better than 2006 which was when the collapse started. The 37% rate would not just be winter fatalities but would be the new diseases and pests increasing the death rate.<br /><br />I too hope it isn't error on my part. I think Cliff's comments are excellent and that is to think more of how many are still alive inside the hive than dead outside it.<br /><br />Now I'm wondering if the caretaker would ever carry away a sick or injured bee? Do they always wait for them to die before carrying them out?Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319169279203223305.post-64988979956399964762010-01-02T17:19:32.044-05:002010-01-02T17:19:32.044-05:00Great post Mark with wonderful pictures as always....Great post Mark with wonderful pictures as always. I too have had this concern - and I also concluded that this is probably 1st year nerves although I don't have the 2 full deep boxes full of food that you have. I also believe that I exaggerate in my mind the number of DEAD bees compared to the number of living bees that you'd be used to seeing in the hive. Hopefully next season, hopefully I'll have a couple of hives side by side to compare.Cliff Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929876975838342227noreply@blogger.com