There has been a massacre. A bird (or several birds) have emptied ALL the bee tubes. Very upset. It wasn't a woodpecker, because it hasn't destroyed the tubes, so it must be a smaller bird with a fine beak. A nuthatch? Blue tit? We have a family of treecreepers down the garden - maybe they are the culprits... I know it's nature, but I feel surprisingly upset! OH heard tapping at 5 am this morning, but thought nothing of it...
Re: Bee disaster Oh dear! After all that effort too. On the upside they will re-colonise. Maybe you could put a mesh screen about 6 inches in front of the tubes to keep the little beggars away?
Re: Bee disaster Yes, OH Has rigged up a screen.. Not sure if some of the bee larvae might be left at the back of the tubes, so wanted to create some protection, even though it feels like bolting the stable door after the horse has gone...
Re: Bee disaster Oh dear Karen that is SUCH a shame! I do hope they have a chance to be recolonised. I have just rescued 2 bees from my kitchen - I could have sent them your way 8)
Re: Bee disaster Oh how sad, I know it is natures way but it doesn't make it any easier. We had our first sparrow fledgling casualty last week. Every year the sparrows nest in our eaves and every year a couple fall before they are ready. It is horrid to hear their parent's distress but so far they have all died by the next day. Hope your bee tubes are restocked soon. Alice
Re: Bee disaster Oh that's probably why I never have anything in my insect tube house. I suppose it's just like a supermarket shelf to the birds and I hadn't thought of that. Sorry to hear that
Re: Bee disaster Oh no. It is nature, and some baby birds are fed - I know that won't help. I find nature films hard to watch for this reason - one night on the telly, a starving polar bear was trying to catch a seal and I was in tears for both!
Re: Bee disaster Julie it is my rule not to watch nature films. The film makers seem to spend a LOT of time filming kills in great detail. Can't stand it. And I don't go to zoos!
Re: Bee disaster [quote author=Jane Martin link=topic=6479.msg86406#msg86406 date=1402260901] Julie it is my rule not to watch nature films. The film makers seem to spend a LOT of time filming kills in great detail. Can't stand it. [/quote] I know! I love them though - but always in tears. I'm such a wimp!
Re: Bee disaster [quote author=JulieT link=topic=6479.msg86377#msg86377 date=1402257437] one night on the telly, a starving polar bear was trying to catch a seal and I was in tears for both! [/quote] I'm pretty sure I saw that one too
Re: Bee disaster The awful one where the polar bear swims for two days and gets to an island but is too exhausted to be able to kill a walrus? So upsetting... Ok, it's put the bee situation into perspective... I'm sure there are some very well-fed and happy baby birds in the garden!
Re: Bee disaster [quote author=Karen link=topic=6479.msg86417#msg86417 date=1402262774] The awful one where the polar bear swims for two days and gets to an island but is too exhausted to be able to kill a walrus? So upsetting... [/quote] :'( :'( :'(
Re: Bee disaster We are a hopeless lot, aren't we.... : Sorry about the bees, Karen! Will more come back, do you think?
Re: Bee disaster Just rereading this this evening and talking about sad nature documentaries reminds me of one I watched where a big cat (can't remember but I think it may have been a lioness..) had to leave one of her two cubs behind because it broke it's back and it's hindlegs were paralysed. You could tell the mother was distraught and i was in floods watching the poor little lion cub try to drag itself after it's family Hope you got some new bees though! I don't mind bees, I think they're kinda cute
Re: Bee disaster Lots of bees in the garden, but they didn't fill any more of the tubes. Hopefully they'll be back next spring.
