First swarm by myself

[Shawn]

Got a call from a fellow officer saying there was a "pool of bees" in teh middle of the street. He also said the "hive" was up in a tree. Being so excited they called I got the boxes, suit and gloves and took off. Next time I wont forget my hat, to keep the mesh of the face, a ladder, and a brush. Ayway I got there and saw a small swarm on the ground. They were flying everywhere and landing back on the ground. I put teh hive box next to them and away they went. The bad part was every time a car went by it spooked them all and up in the air they go. I went to scout out the "hive" and found a small cluster of bees in the tree. I cut the limb off, shook it over the open hive body, and closed it up. It took them awhile to all go in but all in all I was back home in an hour.

I noticed quite a few bees kept clustering back on the pavement. I got down and started digging through them to see what they wanted. I found a dead bee but it did not look like a queen. It had been hit/ran over so it is unknown. I threw the dead bee in the hive, waited a few more minutes and took off. Ill have to make some syrup tomorrow and feed them, hoping the other hoves wont bother them. The hive is shut up to the smallest entrance reducer I have so hopefully it will work. Soory no pictures but I just ran out not thinking. 

[kathyp]

exciting, isn't it 

you'll get a system.  at this time of the year i try to keep stuff in the car if i'm out.  9 time out of 10, i get calls after i left the house or while i'm doing another swarm.  it pays to be prepared.  do feed them right away.  swarms are hungry and feeding helps keep them where you put them.

[D Coates]

Kathyp is dead on.  I carry my "bee box" in the back of my car.  It's a homemade 5 frame deep nuc with and shoulder strap that has all of my beekeeping supplies, including some syrup.  I also carry a 5 frame deep nuc with undrawn frames.  I've never been lucky enough to get two swarm calls on the same day to deplete the supplies in my car but if I do I've got a plastic bag to put all of my supplies in and use my beebox as a nuc as well.

Of the 2 swarms calls I've gotten this year I was the first there and got them both because I had my supplies with me.