[Spur9]

I have a nice swarm hanging from a pine tree (yesterday). Problem is the tree is 20-25 feet off the side of a bluff. No way to get below it and try to shake the bees into a bucket. I did the following last evening:

1) Placed a 2 deep / 8 frame hive on the edge of the bluff facing the swarm
2) 3 frames of drawn comb / 5 frames of foundation in the top deep
3) Bottom deep is empty
4) Wooden entrance reducer inserted with the 3" opening
5) Baited with Swarm Commander

Walked out to the bluff this morning before leaving for work and the swarm was still on the tree. I can smell the SC from the empty hive so the scout bees should too.

I got to thinking on my way to work.... What if I attached a frame of drawn comb to the end of my boom used to hive a swarm a couple of days ago. I might be able to extend it out over the bluff and reach the swarm. I could hold it near the swarm and see if I get bees climbing on the frame. Once enough bees are on it, I would dump them in the box and repeat over and over. t would be some work for sure. No way to extend a bucket because the boom would bend from the weight.

So that being said, should I leave well enough alone with my bait hive and let this play out or spend a couple of hours today trying to get these boogers?

 

[Greeny]

There was a similar thread a while back, with the suggestion to bang on a pan with a metal spoon.
I don't recall if the OP tried it, or if he reported back on the results.
Mr. Ed (Jeff Horchoff on uTube) recently posted a video where he hived a swarm while banging on a crowbar. Looked to me like they were going in his box anyway, but it is a fun video.

 

[KevinWI]

There was a similar thread a while back, with the suggestion to bang on a pan with a metal spoon.
I don't recall if the OP tried it, or if he reported back on the results.
Mr. Ed (Jeff Horchoff on uTube) recently posted a video where he hived a swarm while banging on a crowbar. Looked to me like they were going in his box anyway, but it is a fun video.

lol...I said the same to Jeff.......the bees were already in his hive box!

Here is a thought...it's not for everyone especially if you don't have a bee vac....but in case you do, set up a 10" step ladder with bee vac set on top. Tape end of 12' hose to a pole and attempt to vacuum up...

Or cut the whole **** tree down.

 

[Chicago_ks]

Mr. Ed (Jeff Horchoff on uTube) recently posted a video where he hived a swarm while banging on a crowbar. Looked to me like they were going in his box anyway, but it is a fun video.

I was wondering if that was an April fools joke.
ks

 

[Greeny]

I was wondering if that was an April fools joke.
ks

Could have been. If so, it went right over my head!

 

[DeepCreek]

My first swarm as a beekeeper 6 years ago was 30' up a gum tree. My commercial beek friend told me to go get my chainsaw. I told him I wasn't going to cut down the tree for a swarm. The bee's left... but I've still got my tree.

 

[elmer_fud]

Can you get some 10 ft sections of electrical conduit and a 5 gallon bucket to reach the swarm? If so maybe you can knock the swarm into the bucket and catch it that way.

 

[Spur9]

Came home this evening and the swarm was gone. My box was empty. Best of luck to them 😞