Orientaion Flights! What are they? Why does it happen?
Questions will be answered!
One question I had, and I'm sure many of you have, when I was first getting into bees was how they know where the hive is when they need to return. If you have already watched the first video in this post, you know what I'm talking about: orientation flights. An orientation flight is exactly what it sounds like, the time when bees who have never exited the hive learn its location relative to the surrounding are. I hope to answer three questions about orientation flights.
1.What does it look like? - As you may have noticed in the video, the bees swarm around the entrance of the hive. This time is far more active than usual outside the hive. The bees hover in front facing the hive and do wide circles in the air to learn the location of the hive.
2. Why does it happen? - This is a time for all the bees that are about three weeks old to exit the hive for the first time. So far they have spent their life as "nurse bees" tending to baby bees, but it is now time for them to graduate and become forager bees. The bees are learning the appearance of the hive and surrounding landmarks, which they can remember, so that they can find there way home in the evening. Bees will also relieve themselves during this time, so be careful where you stand when observing!
3. When does it happen? - The orientation flights usually occur during or just after the hottest part of the day. Where I live, the flights are around 3-4p.m. Orientation flights happen daily if the weather is nice.
Watch my next video below to see what a hive normally looks like during the day.
*both videos are from my hive
