Our very own President, Craig Toth got some media attention with his work helping northern Alberta scientists.
Why are the bees dying? Northern Alberta scientists are helping find the answer
The experiment in progress:
If anyone has been to Craig’s beeyard, this should bring back memories:
Ever heard of a honey bird? Nasty pieces of work if you ask me because they are all brood parasites that lay one egg in a nest of another species. Honeyguide nestlings have been known to physically eject their host’s chicks from the nest and they have hooks on their beaks with which they puncture the hosts’ eggs or kill the nestlings.
Honeyguides are named for a remarkable habit seen in one or two species: they guide humans to bee colonies. Once the hive is open and the honey is taken, the bird feeds on the remaining wax and larvae.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeyguide
They are among the few birds that feed regularly on wax—beeswax in most species.
A new study suggests that bees can store information in long-term memory while they sleep, just like humans do when we dream.
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160621-do-bees-dream
Similar to our circadian rhythm, honeybees sleep between five and eight hours a day. And, in the case of forager bees, this occurs in day-night cycles, with more rest at night when darkness prevents their excursions for pollen and nectar.
Without a good night’s sleep, then, honeybees start to forget the activities that should be second nature to them. And in a study released in 2015, Randolf Menzel and his colleagues from the Free University of Berlin provided a possible explanation as to why this might be.
Cities becoming sweet spot for beekeeping as Montreal company rents out hives
A Montreal-based company is renting out beehives to people who are interested in making their own honey and to learn more about beekeeping.
Once rented, the company places hives in either a backyard, a balcony or a flat roof. The renting period lasts one year, and costs $65 a month. Alveole staff does all the beehive maintenance.
We are very thankful for the following people who have stepped up in our organization to lead us through the 2016-2017 year. It’s people like those you see below who help make beekeeping in Edmonton and Area an amazing experience. Please thank them, next time you see them.
President – Craig Toth , 460-7773 ,craig.toth@hotmail.com
Vice President – Malcolm Connell, 780-239- 9649 ,connellmjm@hotmail.com
Secretary/Newsletter – Sarah Willians ,swillans@syban.net
Treasurer – Malcolm Connell, 780-239- 9649 ,connellmjm@hotmail.com
To become a member please make cheques out to:
‘Edmonton and District Beekeepers Association’
Post cheques to Malcolm Connell: 72 Morgan Crescent, St. Albert T8N 2E4
Cor De Witt ,780-986- 8582
Murray Golden ,peg.golden@hotmail.com
Ray Powell ,gm471@hotmail.com
Troy Donovan ,troymd@gmail.com
Our EDBA Constitution can be found here.
The University of Manitoba is hosting an international design competition called BEE/HOUSE/LAB, challenging people to create imaginative and functional houses for solitary bees.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/bee-home-competition-1.3475764
