Honeybees Create a Buzz at Oregon Body-Art Center

(SALEM) - State Street and 17th in Salem is always a busy intersection, but today it was the honeybees that had the right of way.

Honeybee swarm

A swarm of honeybees made its way to the tree just next to the building where the Oregon Body-Art Center is located. It is spring, and in the spring, honeybees do what they want.

Tattoo shop clients and customers at the Arco across the street watched with wonder as thousands of bees hung in the air, and occasionally flew in their direction. For the most part, people were very intrigued and entertained by the impromptu air show.

“I only hope they don’t come this way,” said one Arco customer. The bees had been hanging out for almost two days without much attention, but they were flying a lot and making quite a buzz. Too much of one to go unnoticed.

A hobbyist beekeeper, Dan Jonas, happened to be driving down the street and noticed the swarm. He came to the rescue.

“I caught about twenty swarms last year,” Jonas told Salem-News. “They are just looking for a new place to live, and so we can help them out with that.”

Once the swarm was located in the tree, he brought out a small hive called a Nuc and placed it below the bees, atop a ladder.

“It’s just the right size for a swarm,” Jonas said. The first worker bee “scouts” were surveying the new real estate while we watched, and more bees followed.

“We put some honey inside to attract them, and within a couple of hours they will all have moved in. Then, I’ll just load it up and take them home.”

Typical swarms contain several thousand bees, and is quite a sight to see when they are in flight together. The mass in the air on State Street was impossible to miss, and people started gathering to see the bees in action.

Salem Police were on hand to keep the passersby from becoming distracted by the bees, but there were no stings and no traffic calamities. “I wish all of our calls were like this,” the Salem officer on duty laughed. People were milling about and enjoying the sunshine, and watching the bees fly.

According to Marjorie Ehry, long time Oregon beekeeper, swarms are typically very docile. “They load up on honey before they leave the hive, so that keeps them content and they are very directed in finding their new hive. They rarely sting when they are swarming, but that doesn’t stop people from being scared, at least at first.”

“Once they get over the fear and watch what the bees are doing, people are so often completely entranced. It’s a great learning experience to see a swarm, and to watch a beekeeper do his job, too.”

“This is a normal occurrence of Mother Nature. Nothing is wrong when you see a swarm. That’s how the hive balances itself. If they have an old queen, she moves out with half the hive and finds a new place, leaving the hive to a younger queen. It’s an incredible process to witness.”

It is also a necessary process to build beehives. Swarming therefore is a good thing, and a healthy part of the circle of life.

"Honeybees are defensive animals, and are not likely to be looking for you to bother. They are on their way somewhere. If the swarm is making a home on your property or some place not suitable for a hive, call a local beekeeper, and they’ll help you out."

As for this swarm, it has been adopted by the Jonas’ and will probably be making honey within a day. Lucky little bees.

Note: The Willamette Valley Beekeepers Association Club has information on beekeepers available for swarm gathering in the Marion, Polk, Linn, Benton and Yamhill Counties of Oregon, at 503-364-3275 or http://www.orsba.org/htdocs/swarm_call_list.php.