All posts by James Tew

About James Tew

Academically - (Active) Beekeeping Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University and (retired) The Ohio State University Industry Involvement - The Alabama Beekeepers' Association Interests - Honey bee biology, behavior, and management One Tew Bee, LLC

My Maple Mystery Part 2

To date, I am in the minority.  For most of you, Maple is an obvious, viable source of early spring pollen.  I certainly don’t doubt your observations.  On my 4 medium-sized Maples, with binoculars, for about 5 observations on 4 different days, I could see may be 10-15 bees per observation.  No clouds of bees.  No hum of bees.  Just the occasional forager.  Certainly, these casual observations are not science.  There are far too many variables not considered.  In Ohio, beekeepers have the same issue with soybeans.  Rarely, rarely a surplus honey crop from soybean – yet in other states, beekeepers routinely get major crops.   I will be watching my maples again next year.