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Central Oregon beekeepers!!
It's time for the 2024-25 PNW Honey Bee Survey!

Your responses help shape bee health insights across our region. The survey is open from March 16th to May 1st, and this year you can choose the FastTrack option to save time.

Download the handy Note Sheet to help you track your hive data before starting.

Take the Survey here: 

2024-25 PNW Honey Bee Survey


Establishing pollinator-friendly habitats and food sources for bees, butterflies and birds https://pollinatorpathwaybend.org/

Nectar and Pollen Plants of the PNW List

How to help: Read the guide that was shared during the meeting:

Nectar and Pollen Plants of the PNW.pdf

Join the Oregon Bee Atlas project on iNaturalist and contribute observations of honey bee activity in your yard or community.

Nectar and Pollen Plants of the PNW (INaturalist)

2025 Swarm Study Opportunity

Please see the info below from Dr. Ramesh Sagili of the OSU Honey Bee Lab:

Opportunity to understand honey bee swarm biology via participatory research / citizen science

Honey bee swarms are fascinating. Have you ever wondered what percentage of worker bees leave the parental hive during a swarm? You have probably read in bee books or a couple of journal articles that about 50% of the worker bees will swarm along with the old queen to establish a new nest. One study published in 2012 (Rangel and Seeley, Insectes Sociaux 59, 453-462), suggests that 75% of worker bees leave in a swarm. The percentage of worker bees leaving in a swarm could vary depending on the time of the year (April, May, June or July) and a few other factors. We (OSU Honey Bee Lab) are interested in exploring this interesting and not so well understood aspect of swarm biology with the help of citizen scientists (our passionate beekeepers) by examining as many swarms as possible. If you would like to be a part of this research either this year or next year (2022), then please read the study process below.

Study process / method: If you witness a low hanging swarm that can be easily accessed and captured without any risk / hazard, and you also know for sure the source of that swarm (parental hive), then you can be a part of this study. Once the swarm is settled on a branch or other substrate, that swarm needs to be hived carefully in a single-story hive with eight or ten frames (frames can be empty or with some honey and pollen). Then the worker bee population should be estimated in both the captured swarm (in the single-story hive) and the parental hive (original hive that swarmed). Please call Heike Williams (direct office line 541-460-7684, cell 541-740-7877) if you happen to successfully capture a swarm and know the parental hive from which the swarm was issued. Heike will either assist you with estimating worker population or will provide you with step-by-step instructions. Coverage of frames with bees in both colonies need to be estimated ideally within 24 hours (best) and latest within 72 hours after swarm issued and at a time of day when bees are not flying (mornings, evenings).

Appreciate your help in increasing the body of knowledge regarding swarming.


Ramesh Sagili

Oregon State University Honey Bee Lab

Are you interested in learning about bees and beekeeping?

If you have little or no experience, the 'Getting Started with Bees' Certificate Program is a great place to start. It is a stand-alone program that satisfies the curiosity of those who want to know more about bee biology and backyard beekeeping through online learning and discussion forums. No waiting list - join at any time!

Take your beekeeping to the next level!

Are you interested in learning how to become a better beekeeper? Have you experienced problems in the past that you'd like to remedy? Do you want to help others learn about bees? The Oregon Master Beekeeper program is for you!

Participating beekeepers gain experience at three successive levels: Apprentice, Journey, and Master. Each level provides opportunities and support for additional learning, practice in the field, and community service.

All of our beekeeping programs represent a cooperative effort between the Oregon State University Honey Bee Lab and the Oregon State Beekeepers Association to contribute to both the health of honey bee colonies and the integrity of the practice of beekeeping.


https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mb

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For more information, contact Heike Williams at heike.williams@oregonstate.edu

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April in Your Central Oregon Apiary

I don’t know if it’s just expectation bias, but this time of year it seems like we change from winter to spring almost overnight. Last week we had several days of relatively consistent snow, and now it doesn’t even seem to get below freezing every night.

Right now, there are quite a few trees blooming—the willows and maples—and towards Sisters, I’m seeing some fruit trees in bloom. Daffodils are looking cheerful, and forsythia are putting on their best show. Think about adding your observations to the iNaturalist program for nectar and pollen plants of the PNW (check out the COBKA website for info and link).

The same “rebirth” is occurring with your bees. You should be seeing pollen coming in (mine are mostly yellow and pale white) and relatively consistent flight activity when it's 55°F or above.

The main issue to be aware of at this time of year in Central Oregon is starvation. Your bees should be starting their annual population increase, meaning lots of hungry babies. There are some blooming plants, but depending on where your apiary is located, there may be little, if any, nectar coming in. It’s now warm enough that we can feed syrup, so I generally like to feed 1:1 syrup until I’m seeing lots of blooms in the area, the hive is relatively full, or the bees slow down on their intake. Maybe not necessary, but “cheap insurance.” It’s somewhat controversial and not a perfect solution, but during this month, I like to feed a pollen substitute (commercial or DIY). Remembering that these don’t provide a complete set of nutrients for brood rearing, I usually think that if they’re bringing in some natural pollen, it “rounds it out” nutrition-wise.

Finally, if you have a very weak colony, they may not have enough “bee-power” to bring in food, raise brood, and keep the colony warm. Think about combining with a stronger colony, then during the big increase period in May and June, splitting them to recreate what you had.

Enjoy and celebrate the changes.

—Allen Engle

COBKA Notes - Archives

Upcoming events

20 May 2025 6:00 PM •
17 Jun 2025 6:00 PM •
15 Jul 2025 6:00 PM •
26 Jul 2025 • Tillamook Oregon
24 Oct 2025 • River House Lodge in Bend, Oregon



ABOUT US

We are a diverse bunch of individuals who share a fascination for the honey bee and its workings. Our members range from full-time beekeepers and pollinators with hundreds of hives to hobbyists involved in backyard beekeeping. 

Some members do not even keep bees, but are fascinated by the six legs and four wings of Apis mellifera.

OUR MISSION

The Mission of the Central Oregon Beekeeping Association (COBKA) is to promote effective, economic and successful regional beekeeping through education, collaboration, communication and research in the spirit of friendship.

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