The Latest Buzz #4

March - Warmer Air & First Flights

The days are beginning to stretch a little longer, and the air is slowly losing its winter sharpness. March brings a noticeable shift to the farm. Not quite spring, but no longer the stillness of deep winter. Around the hive, this change shows up in small, important ways.

On milder days, the entrance comes back to life.

There’s a steady increase in cleansing flights this month as the bees take advantage of the warmer air. After being confined to the hive through long stretches of cold, they leave in quick bursts, circling out and returning just as fast. It’s not foraging yet, but it’s essential. These flights help the colony stay healthy, and seeing them more frequently is often one of the first signs that the hive has made it through winter.

But even with these moments of activity, conditions are still unpredictable.

Temperatures can swing quickly in March, and the colony continues to respond by adjusting the cluster as needed. On colder nights, they remain tightly grouped to conserve heat. During warmer afternoons, the cluster loosens slightly, allowing bees to move more freely within the hive and access remaining honey stores. This balance is critical, especially as their resources begin to run low.

Food availability becomes a real concern this time of year.

While spring feels close, there’s still little to forage, and the bees are relying heavily on what’s left inside the hive. To help support them through this gap, we use the mountain camp feeding method - placing dry sugar above the cluster as an emergency food source. This approach works well in colder conditions since it doesn’t add excess moisture to the hive, and it gives the bees something accessible if their honey stores run out before consistent forage becomes available.

March is a transitional month.

The bees are still very much in survival mode, but there are clear signs of change. Increased movement, more frequent flights, and a growing responsiveness to the environment all point toward the season ahead. There’s still cold to come, and care is still needed, but the hive is beginning to move forward.

For us, this is a time to stay attentive and supportive.

We continue to monitor food stores, watch the entrance, and take advantage of warmer days to check in when possible. The goal is to help the colony make it through this final stretch of winter, without rushing what nature is already setting into motion.

Each warmer day brings a little more activity, a little more sound, and a little more promise of what’s just ahead.

p.s. today (03/26) we had some cleansing flights, new comb, and a couple ladies were seen carrying pollen!

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The Latest Buzz is a series offering gentle check-ins from the hive(s) here at Stone Lions Farm. Each update reflects the season, the bees, and the quiet work happening in between. Check back for more as the year unfolds.