Saturday, May 9, 2020

May 9, 2020 First routed-wood-tray hole filled today.

For the first time a mason bee has decided to fill  up a hole
in the routed-wood-trays.   In addition, another mason bee has
been using another hole. I can tell because there is a large amount
of  yellow powder lining the entrance to the tube.

A this point there are approximately 150 tubes filled.  The bees are
taking greater interest in paper tubes. 

Popular wisdom says that a bee condo should receive morning sun.

Actually, my best bee house faces due west. It first gets sun at about
noon.  I think the morning sun idea may sound good, but in my experience
it does not work.  I think the bees want the sun from noon to sundown.
My bees are a special variety of late risers. They look at me like I am their
god. So they know I am a late riser. The good little minions and do not
want to insult the all mighty by getting up too early.

I know they know who I am because they shoot right out of the tubes
into my face. Pelting me with their shiny bodies.







Thursday, May 7, 2020

May 7, 2020

Hard to count precisely but it now looks like roughly 50 filled tubes in both
condos. 
I still dot see any routed-wood-trays with any filled tubes.  I thought there would
be a few.

There must be something wrong with the wood,  I actually had thought it
would be better to buy my own router. I do not trust the wood.


Wednesday, May 6, 2020

May 6 , 2020

My mason bee tenants in my bee-condos  are not happy about
the routed-out-wood trays. 

To date, not one routed-out-wood tray has a filled tube.

I really don't know what could cause their avoidance.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

May 5, 2020 Cinco De Mayo

I wonder if mason bees care?

What I can say is that the bees continue to avoid routed-wood-trays. I mean
not a single filled tube in the routed-wood-trays.   Instead of using the routed-wood-trays
the bees are opting for paper tubes. 

The bees continue to mostly choose the bamboo tubes.  Occasionally, they choose paper
but that is it.

I have plenty of flowers so the bees are keeping busy.  I have about a dozen blueberry
bushes. To date I have only seen one mason bee on a blueberry bush.

I really don't know what flowers are best for them. One neighbor has a dogwood tree and the flowers have been blooming for a couple of weeks.