East Waterford Beekeepers' Association

Lecture: Why are Queens Failing?
2021-02-18 20:00 - 21:30 (Europe/Dublin) | On-Line
Why are Queens Failing?
with Jeff Pettis
Are your queens not living as long as in the past? Do your colonies fail to
Re-queen themselves after a swarm leaves or when you expect a queenless nuc
to rear a new queen? Queen problems are on the increase and Jeff will cover
some basic queen and colony biology and discuss some of the many things that
could be involved in why queens fail.

Lectures: Geographic Origin and Authenticity of UK Honey Samples and Flower Power – The Science of Pollination. CABK
2021-02-15 19:00 - 21:00
Lecturer 1: Ayla Paul, University of Reading

Geographic Origin and Authenticity of UK Honey Samples

Ayla is now completing her PhD thesis and will speak about her research on the origin and authenticity of UK honey samples. She will give insights of the various methods – mass spectrometry, trace element (geology) analysis and pollen analysis – that she uses to develop an “Isoscape” for the UK. Is it possible to determine the geographic origins?

Lecturer 2 : Hamish Symington, University of Cambridge

Hamish Symington

Flower Power – The Science of Pollination
Hamish explores how pollination works, how much of our food relies on insects, and how research at the university’s Department of Plant Sciences aims to make flowers more efficient at being pollinated, thus helping to feed the projected 2050 global population of 10 billion people.

Lecture: Swarm Control
2021-02-11 20:00 - 21:30
Swarm Control
with Ged Marshall
Swarm control without the nine day checks . . .
how to survive the Summer without repeatedly inspecting the brood chambers
and still get large yields.

Lecture: Queen Management Essentials
2021-02-03 20:00 - 21:30
Queen Management Essentials
with Juliana Rangel
How to manage queens successfully including some of the common causes of
queen problems. Juliana will show us how to determine whether a queen is
aging appropriately and if her colony is doing well, or if she is failing and it is
time to replace her with a new, more vigorous queen. Good detective work in
the hive will increase our chances of managing productive, healthy colonies.

Lecture: Nutritional requirement and supplemental feeding
2021-01-28 19:30 - 21:00
Marin Anastasov talk: Nutritional requirement and supplemental feeding
Nutrition is a basic biological need and the pre-requisite for a healthy and productive colony.
Carbohydrates provide bees with the energy for flight, movement and heat, while protein, fats, vitamins and minerals are needed for the growth, function and development of the colony.
This talk will cover the importance of different nutrients to both individual bees and to the colony and will look at the different types of feed required at different times of the year. It will describe when, how, and what to feed bees, the different types of food available, and the various types of feeders.

About Marin Anastasov, NDB
Marin started beekeeping in his teens and developed his initial beekeeping knowledge and skills while studying towards BSc in Animal Science in Bulgaria. Later, he completed an MSc in Organic Farming at Aberdeen University. He is passionate about sustainable food production and his entire working career has been in organic food and farming. Marin is a Master Beekeeper and gained his NDB in 2017. He currently manages 30 colonies in Gloucestershire.
Marin is Trustee of Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association and is the Chairman on the BBKA Examinations Board. He is an assessor for the Basic, General Husbandry and Advanced Husbandry certificates and has contributed to the development and running of the General Husbandry and Advanced Husbandry training programmes for the BBKA. Marin is co-author and led the implementation of the BBKA Certificate in Honey Bee Breeding, including providing the training and support to both future candidates and assessors.

Lecture: Landscape and Bees
2021-01-27 20:00 - 21:30
Wednesday 27th January, 8pm
Landscape and Bees
with Jane Stout
Bees are highly mobile organisms and use different habitats in the landscape for
feeding, nesting, mating and overwintering. The diversity and arrangement of
different types of habitat, and its quality in terms of providing resources for bees,
affects how bees can live in and use landscapes. Jane will discuss how we can use
our knowledge in this area to manage landscapes for bees

lecture: Impact of Pesticides on Bees
2021-01-19 20:00 - 21:30
Impact of Pesticides on Bees
with Jeff Pettis
We know that pesticides in the environment can harm bees. Jeff will cover some
of the ways pesticides and bees interact and a unique defence strategy that bees
have to isolate contaminated pollen called entoumbed pollen. He will discuss
the role of monocultures and changes needed in agriculture to protect all
pollinators and the environment

Lecture: Conservation of our Native Bee with Pat Deasy
2021-01-13 19:00 - 20:30

Lecture: New Year Management UBKA
2021-01-12 20:00 - 21:30
New Year Management
with Ged Marshall
Everything you need to do before your bees start moving up into the first super.
Prepare for the season ahead and pre-empt problems.
Ged uses over-wintered nucs as part of his system and will cover the
management of these also.

A Lecture for Children 22/12/2020
2020-12-22 14:00 - 15:00
Book at : https://www.bbka.org.uk/Event/why-do-the-bees-buzz-a-christmas-lecture-with-margaret-murdin

Lecture: “The Coming Season - Are You Prepared?”
2020-12-15 19:30 - 21:30
Roger Patterson presents “The Coming Season – Are You Prepared?”

About this Event

Many beekeepers switch off as soon as they bed their bees down for the winter, then put their feet up, only to panic in the spring.
There is a lot to think about. What went wrong last year? How can we overcome the problems and improve next year? What can you study so you understand your bees better, so make fewer mistakes? What other management techniques can you use? Can you make your bees more productive and healthy? Can you enjoy your beekeeping more?
This presentation is packed with suggestions for improving your bees and your beekeeping.

This event is kindly sponsored by Bord Bia, whose purpose is to bring Ireland’s outstanding food, drink and horticulture to the world, thus enabling growth and sustainability of producers.

Roger Patterson
Roger Patterson, who lives in West Sussex, started keeping bees in 1963, soon after the hard 1962/3 winter, and at one stage kept 130 colonies. He is a practical beekeeper, concentrating on the basics and keeping things simple, but based on observation and understanding of the colony. He has always been heavily involved with his local and county BKA’s and manages his local BKA apiary, where there are usually a large number of colonies for instruction, including queen rearing. He has been a demonstrator since the early 1970s and believes beekeeping should be fun.
For business reasons, Roger had a break of about 15 years without his own bees, but kept involved with his local BKA. On his return to active beekeeping he noticed a problem with queen performance, which he has highlighted and written about in the bee press.
Roger lectures and demonstrates widely, where his practical approach is appreciated. He is often accompanied by his border collies Nell and Rosie. Since COVID-19 he has presented many webinars. He is a past BBKA Trustee, currently BDI Vice President and BIBBA vice chairman, the latter doubling up with Events and Education. He arranges speakers for events held by the National Honey Show, BIBBA and the Central Association of Bee-keepers.
Roger owns and maintains Dave Cushman’s Website www.dave-cushman.net, probably the most comprehensive source of beekeeping information on the Internet.
Roger has also published a book, “Beekeeping. A Practical Guide“, with four others and has several booklets in the pipeline.

Beeswax Candle Making
2020-12-14 19:30 - 21:00
Waxing Lyrical with Joyce Nisbet

Waxing Lyrical, Joyce Nisbet, BBKA, 14th December 2020 7.30pm
Joyce will describe some of the techniques that can be used to produce candles and other attractive beeswax items, whether for showing or as gifts.
Having started beekeeping in 1990, Joyce is now a Master Beekeeper, BBKA Honey Judge, BBKA Trustee and Chair of the BBKA Spring Convention Committee. After being impressed by high-quality wax exhibits in Honey Shows, Joyce improved her wax preparation skills by attending lectures and workshops on the topic. This then led to her being involved in creating wax items for displays by North Shropshire Beekeepers at the National Honey Show.

{Please note in order to attend you will need to register via the Zoom registration link you will receive in your email once you have ‘checked out’ at the shop}
These talks are free but we would welcome a donation to one of our appeals
Save the Bees or Apiary and Education

Book at : https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbka.org.uk%2FEvent%2Fwaxing-lyrical-with-joyce-nisbet&sa=D&ust=1608288777633000&usg=AOvVaw0Hmlwxy2MRZBi7kvtu8Yoc

Lecture: Preparing Honey and Wax - for Christmas gifts or for show - Joyce Nisbet, Master Beekeeper
2020-12-10 19:30 - 21:00

Lecture: Diagnosing queen problems: is it the queen, the colony, both, or neither?!
2020-12-09 19:30 - 21:30
Diagnosing queen problems: is it the queen, the colony, both, or neither?!

About this Event

Practical advice—based on empirical research—looking at different symptoms and attributing whether or not the problem is the queen’s fault. A lesson in showing how we blame the queen way more often than it’s actually her fault.

This event is kindly sponsored by Bord Bia, whose purpose is to bring Ireland’s outstanding food, drink and horticulture to the world, thus enabling growth and sustainability of producers.

David R. Tarpy is a Professor of Entomology and the Extension Apiculturist at North Carolina State University since 2003. As Extension Apiculturist, he maintains an apiculture web site dedicated to the dissemination of information and understanding of honey bees and their management, spearheads numerous extension projects (such as the 2005 New Beekeeper Cost-sharing program that created hundreds of new beekeepers within the state). He launched the Beekeeper Education & Engagement System (BEES) — an exciting online learning resource for knowledge and understanding of bees and beekeeping.
His research interests focus on the biology and behavior of honey bee queens in order to better improve the overall health of queens and their colonies.
David was the guest lecturer at the FIBKA Summer School in Gormanston in 2019, and his lectures proved very popular so we’re delighted he’s back to speak to us again.
Read the article “Meet David Tarpy” in Bee Culture Magazine.

Zoom Committee Meeting
2020-12-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2020-11-18 19:00 - 21:00, 2020-11-03 19:00 - 21:00

Managing Bees on Oil Seed Rape
2020-12-02 19:00 - 21:00
Lecturer
Tom Shaw. FIBKA Certified Lecturer

Lecture: "Stay Cool: How We Can Use Honey Bee Thermoregulation To Keep Better Bees"
2020-12-01 19:30 - 21:30
Chelsea Cook presents “Stay Cool: How We Can Use Honey Bee Thermoregulation To Keep Better Bees”

About this Event

Stay Cool: How We Can Use Honey Bee Thermoregulation To Keep Better Bees
In this lecture, Dr. Cook will discuss thermoregulation of bees, both in the summer and in the winter, and how beekeepers can use cold storage of honey bees to keep better bees. This lecture was written specifically for beekeepers.

This event is kindly sponsored by Bord Bia, whose purpose is to bring Ireland’s outstanding food, drink and horticulture to the world, thus enabling growth and sustainability of producers.

Chelsea Cook is an Assistant Professor in Marquette University, Wisconsin, USA. Her research lab at Marquette University studies social behavior, from genes to the collective, using honey bees as their model system.
Chelsea is also co-founder and chief science officer at HiveTech Solutions, a company that develops tools to help beekeepers keep healthier bees.

Chelsea’s recent research has indicates that there are curious bees and single-minded bees – a really fascinating read.

Lecture: "Viruses: ongoing epizootic threat for our bees"
2020-11-26 19:30 - 21:30
Robert Paxton presents “Viruses: ongoing epizootic threat for our bees”

About this Event

Viruses are arguably the single most important cause for poor bee health and colony loss. Robert will talk on the diverse impacts of viruses on honey bees, as evidenced by recent literature and his own group’s researches. A particular focus will be on Deformed wing virus, among the most prevalent viruses worldwide, and he will also cover potential means of its control.

This event is kindly sponsored by Bord Bia, whose purpose is to bring Ireland’s outstanding food, drink and horticulture to the world, thus enabling growth and sustainability of producers.

Prof. Dr. Robert PaxtonChair of General Zoology, 2010-present
Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
A graduate of Sussex University, where he undertook a PhD on sex ratios in solitary wasps in 1985, Robert subsequently held postdoc positions at Cardiff University, researching bees and pollination, Uppsala University, working on bee population genetics, then the University of Tübingen (Germany), researching the genetics of social evolution. In 2003 took up an academic post at Queen’s University Belfast from where, in 2010, he moved to the University of Halle (Germany), to take up a chair in zoology. His main research areas are: social evolution, host-parasite relations, pollination and conservation genetics, with a taxonomic focus on bees.

Lecture: Better Bees in Ireland
2020-11-25 13:00 - 14:00
Its that time of year again, this years UCD Annual Open Honey Lecture will be delivered by Dr Julia Jones -Better Bees in Ireland. Though she won’t speak about honey, she will speak about her recent project on the national apiculture programme as well as about some of her research into the linkages between genetics and honeybee behaviour.
Join us tomorrow, 25th November 2020, on Zoom at the link below. It is open to all.
https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/j/67006259836…

Jo Widdicombe Presents "The National Bee Improvement Programme"
2020-11-18 19:30 - 21:30
Jo Widdicombe will talk about BIBBA’s proposed National Bee Improvement Programme to see if the Irish beekeepers would like to take part.

About this Event

The National Bee Improvement Programme has been proposed by BIBBA to reduce the demand for imports of other sub-species and to increase the quality of our bees.
Ireland is in the same geographical region as England, Wales and Scotland and, although perhaps not to the same extent, is also subject to imports of other sub-species threatening the quality of our native stock. We all share the same native bee and quite a lot of native bees are sent to Britain from Ireland.
The use of brought-in stock from other areas in the region is permitted under the scheme in order to re-enforce the native strain. Participants in the Programme will refrain from using imported stock, or offspring of recently imported stock, of other sub-species.

This event is kindly sponsored by Bord Bia, whose purpose is to bring Ireland’s outstanding food, drink and horticulture to the world, thus enabling growth and sustainability of producers.

Born in Newtown Powys, Jo grew up in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire before moving back to Wales and then to Cornwall where he has lived for over 30 years. He worked in agriculture (organic vegetable production and dairy) before returning to studies. He graduated from Plymouth Polytechnic with a B.Sc.(Hons) in Environmental Science. He has been running his own business (shop selling greengrocery, wholefoods, flowers, plants etc.) with his wife since 1980.
Jo has been beekeeping for over 30 years and has been a member of BIBBA for more than 25 years, serving on the BIBBA Committee. Jo worked as a Seasonal Bee Inspector for 5 years and is a Bee Farmer in Cornwall running over 100 colonies.
He believes that progress in bee improvement in Britain and Ireland is only likely to come from determined groups of beekeepers working together. Hence, wants to communicate with Groups, find out what they have been doing and their plans for the future.
Groups can learn from each others successes and failures.

Pam Hunter: Oil Seed Rape – a blessing or a curse?
2020-11-16 19:30 - 20:30
Pam Hunter: Oil Seed Rape – a blessing or a curse?

Zoom Webinar by Pam hunter talk: Oil Seed rape – a blessing or a curse?
Discusses the fascinating history of this ubiquitous crop and how it has evolved. Its value to bees and the beekeeper. The value of rape seed oil worldwide, its nutritional value and how modifications have been made are all included. How to manage colonies to get the best out of rape. The problems with it, especially for the beginner. The undoubted benefits if the colony is managed well.

{Please note in order to attend you will need to register via the Zoom registration link you will receive in your email once you have ‘checked out’ at the shop}
Webinar Speaker
Pam Hunter (Master Beekeeper )
Pam has been keeping bees for over 25 years and is a Master Beekeepers. She is also a member of BIBBA and the Central Association of Bee-Keepers.
Pam’s background is in biological sciences. She was employed in microbiological research in the pharmaceutical industry for 30 years before becoming a freelance consultant and writer.
Until recently Pam was Chair of the BBKA Examinations Board and is currently Manager of Research, Technical and Environmental matters.
Pam is particularly interested in scientific aspects of bees and their interaction with the environment and plants. Also the neglected area of historical aspects of bees, the environment and beekeeping. Gives talks on these topics around the country.

These talks are free but we would welcome a donation to one of our appeals

FIBKA AGM
2020-11-14 10:30 - 14:00

EWBA Voting Delegates Meeting
2020-11-11 20:00 - 22:00

FIBKA AGM Voting Delegates Zoom Meeting
2020-11-11 19:30 - 20:30

On-Line Lecture with Celia Davis. 'The Roles of Winter and Summer Bees'
2020-11-10 19:30 - 21:30
About this Event

The roles of Winter and Summer bees
This talk looks at the functional and physiological differences between the worker honey bee that lives a brief life in the Summer, and her sister who survives throughout the Winter to start the colony into action the following year. It focuses on the importance of these Winter bees and the effect that disease and nutrition has on their ability to survive.

Celia F Davis B Sc NDB
Celia’s interest in insects began when she was a child and initially focussed on butterflies and moths, a group she is still interested in and increasingly depressed about. The fascination endured through school and university, where she obtained a degree in agriculture and, when she worked as a teacher and lecturer in Biology. When she married Cyril, who was a keen photographer, the interest expanded into photography. Life changed completely when Celia got her first hive of bees, 40 years ago, and they became a passion. During the intervening years she managed 14 hives, but this has now been reduced to two at the bottom of the garden. She has, at various times, been President, Secretary and Chairman of Warwickshire BKA, served on the BBKA Examinations Board for 6 years and still tutors on the Correspondence Course and is involved in examining at all levels.
She has had 2 books published on the Biology and behaviour, and various other aspects, of honey bees and often writes articles for the major beekeeping journals.
Her books, The Honeybee Inside Out and The Honeybee Around & About are often used by those studying the Intermediate and Senior FIBKA exams.

Origins and Diversity of Apis mellifera in Ireland
2020-11-04 19:00 - 20:30
Webinar Wednesday 4th November 2020
at 7.00pm 19.00

“Origins and Diversity of Apis mellifera in Ireland”
Grace McCormack
The Link to this webinar is;
https://nuigalway-ie.zoom.us/j/93240576829?pwd=[REDACTED]

On-Line Lecture with Jamie Ellis. 'Worker Honey Bees and What They Do'
2020-10-20 19:30 - 21:30
About this Event

Worker honey bees and what they do
Have you ever wondered why some honey bees are called “worker” honey bees? What work do they do and why do they do it? In this lecture, Dr. Ellis will discuss the tasks worker honey bees perform and how these tasks ensure colony success.

Jamie Ellis is the Gahan Endowed Professor of Entomology in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida. He has a BS degree in Biology from the University of Georgia (USA) and a PhD in Entomology from Rhodes University in South Africa. At the University of Florida, Jamie has responsibilities in extension, instruction and research. Regarding his extension work, Jamie created the UF/IFAS Bee College and the UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program. As an instructor, Jamie supervises PhD and masters students. Currently, Jamie and his team have over 30 active research projects in the fields of honey bee husbandry, conservation and ecology, and integrated crop pollination.

On- Line Lecture with Randy Oliver 'Reading the Combs'
2020-10-14 19:30 - 21:30
Randy Oliver presents “READING THE COMBS: UNDERSTANDING BEE BIOLOGY OVER THE COURSE OF A SEASON”

About this Event

READING THE COMBS: UNDERSTANDING BEE BIOLOGY OVER THE COURSE OF A SEASON
A summary of Randy’s series “Understanding Colony Buildup and Decline.” By acquiring a better understanding of the biology of bees, nutrition, parasites, and pathogens over the course of the season, and by learning to “read the combs,” the beekeeper can then make better informed management decisions adapted to his/her particular situation.

From Randy Oliver’s website Scientific Beekeeping:
I started keeping bees as a hobbyist around 1966, and then went on to get university degrees in biological sciences, specializing in entomology. In 1980 I began to build a migratory beekeeping operation in California, and currently run around 1000-1500 hives with my two sons, from which we make our livings (update: Eric and Ian are in the process of taking over the operation–allowing me more time for research).
In 1993, the varroa mite arrived in California, and after it wiped out my operation for the second time in 1999, I decided to “hit the books” and use my scientific background to learn to fight back. I started writing for the American Bee Journal in 2006, and have submitted articles nearly every month since then (see “Articles by Publication Date”).
My writing for the Journal brought me requests to speak at beekeeping conventions, which has also allowed me the chance to visit beekeepers from all over North America and several other continents. I read most every scientific study relating to beekeeping, and regularly correspond with beekeepers and researchers worldwide.
What I try to do in my articles and blogs is to scour scientific papers for practical beekeeping applications, and to sort through the advice, opinion, and conjecture found in the bee magazines and on the Web, taking no positions other than to provide accurate information to Joe Beekeeper, following the suggestion in 1922 by New Zealand beekeeping author Isaac Hopkins:
That scientific accuracy, as opposed to rule of thumb, or guess-work methods, is much needed in commercial production to attain the success we should aim for, will be acceded by all intelligent beekeepers. There are many, however who do not realise this, or at all events, do not sufficiently appreciate the principle in their practice, but are content muddle along in a slipshod fashion to their great loss. I regularly update the articles on this site as new information becomes available, and solicit constructive criticism or comments.
Perhaps the best venue for such discussion is at the Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology. Be sure to subscribe to updates, and I’ll email you monthly when I add content to the site http://scientificbeekeeping.com/scientific-beekeeping-newsletter/.
