My friend and coworker, Steve Schmidt, found a listing on the local Craig’s List asking for someone to remove a wild hive from a tree at their house. The tree was dead and due to be cut down. The owner had read about the plight of the honey bees in the U.S. and didn’t want to just kill the bees. After a few emails and phone calls, Steve and I finally traveled to Lindsborg to retrieve the little darlings.

The tree owner had sent a picture showing where the bees were entering and exiting the tree. It didn’t look too high, and the owner assured us that the tree was rotten and would be easy to cut up.

After some intense debate and coin flipping, Steve finally climbed up the ladder with the chain saw. After a few slices off the top side, we decided to cut the limb off of the tree and lower it to the ground. We figured we could trim the branch down easier on the ground. Steve cut through the rotten branch and I lowered it gently to the ground. The first thing we saw was dissected honeycomb packed in the hollow branch. We didn’t see any bees, but we wasted no time in sealing the end of the branch with some plastic that Steve had brought along.

I then went up the tree to investigate the hive remaining in the tree. To my relief, the comb left in the tree, was dry and deserted, so we didn’t lose any bees. That left me with about five feet of hollow tree branch stuffed with bees and honeycomb. Jackpot!

I finally got the branch home and walked it over to my covered breezeway and strapped it to one of the roof supports. As soon as I removed the paper stuffed in the knothole entrance, 10 -15 bees came pouring out. As of this writing, it’s been several hours since they arrived at their new home. I think today will be dominated by orientation flights, as they adjust to their new location and try to fix landmarks. Tomorrow will be hunting and gathering.

I think I’ll give them a week or so to calm down, then I’ll try to move them into a hive body. I may even move them into my empty observation hive, but for right now, it’s just cool watching them come in and out of that knothole.

Station 16 was the site of a first class lobster feed Saturday. Our lovely benefactor, Tammy Smith (aka the Captain’s Wench), provided eight 1 1/2 pound lobsters, two pounds of mussels, and two pounds of clams. Station personnel supplemented the fare with steaks, homemade cheddar biscuits, and wild rice. The event took on a carnival-like atmosphere with lobster rides for the kids, clam races, and a “dress like your favorite fish” contest.

(click on the pictures for a better look)

The little beauties came packed in seaweed, in a styrofoam cooler, fresh from Maine. Also included were 8 servings of special “Maine made” deserts, cooking instructions, eating utensils, a map showing where they were caught, and DVD showing the fishing process and a little bit about the company Catch a Piece of Maine.

Here, Ms. Smith demonstrates the proper technique to dispatch a lobster. Brice Romero brought in the pot he uses to deep fry turkeys. It worked perfectly!

Of course, once the process started, no one could resist taking a closer look. It’s just not something any of us had a lot of experience with.

Most of us with any time on the job, just knew that the meal couldn’t come off without a fire or some other call coming in the middle of the prep or the actual meal itself. But to everyone’s surprise, we prepared and ate in peace.

It seemed a shame that with all of this fine food. No one seemed to be enjoying themselves at all.

It’s a shame really!

Thanks Tammy!

This is some video of AP-16 in route to an unknown fire. Engine 16 is already up ahead. It tuned out to be someone burning leaves and brush, behind their house. Not too exciting, but I had my Blackberry on and wanted to try the video again. Notice how the nice West Side drivers get out of the way. If this had been on the east side of town, I don’t think things would have gone as well.