Congratulations to Annaka!

When NOPBA members Rob and Annaka Freeman began coordinating a rescue for a fully developed colony hanging out on a tree branch high up in a fir tree - little did they know their efforts would reach thousands of readers all over the world. As an experienced beekeeper and very accomplished writer, Annaka documented the rescue in her personal blog. Following the suggestion of Judy Harvey, she submitted her story to the American Bee Journal. Low and behold, her article has been published in the January 2020 issue!

This was far beyond an errant swarm recovery. We’re told that sometimes when a swarm can’t find a new home, or is unable to reach a consensus for their new location, they will simply begin building comb right where they are. This is evidently what may have happened because by the time Annaka found them, the colony had built 8 or 9 very large well developed combs high up, out in the open, up on the tree branch. This was a family of “survivor” bees whose mother was a local Dan Harvey queen that had evidently decided to just camp out where they were. With winter on the way, their nest location clearly made a compelling case for a rescue which Annaka has now shared with the world.

The story of the American Bee Journal, its origin, and Samuel Wagner, the first editor, is closely associated with the Rev. L.L. Langstroth. Wagner established the American Bee Journal and its first issue appeared in January 1861. And 160 years later, with her exciting account of a bee rescue operation, Annaka deservedly joins a very prestigious cadre of contributors. Congratulations, Annaka !