Warm December Weather and the honey bees are flying

Bees Take Flight on Warm Winter Days

​With the recent warm weather, we at SeaBee Honey have been busy checking on our hives and have observed many bees taking to the air. This is a natural occurrence during warm spells in late fall and winter, as the bees take advantage of the opportunity to perform cleansing flights (going the bathroom) and remove dead bees from the hive.
While these flights are beneficial to the hive's overall health, many  wonder if the bees are able to collect nectar or pollen during these warm spells in the winter. Unfortunately, the answer is no. No flowers are blooming in the our winter landscape, leaving the foraging bees empty-handed. However, in some cases foraging bees may stumble upon resources from other nearby hives that have failed, bringing back honey to their own colony.
This activity is a clear example of the resilience and adaptability of honeybees. Even in the midst of our cold New England winters, the bees are able to survive.