Into the species-rich spring with bees, bumblebees & co
Spring is just around the corner. The world lights up, everything becomes colourful. We are happy about the first snowdrops, crocuses and hyacinths that are sticking their heads out of the ground. But even greater is the joy of the early starters among the wild bees and butterflies, some of which were lured outside as early as February by the mild temperatures. In spring, pollen and nectar are not only needed for the offspring, but also urgently for your own energy balance. After the winter months, their reserves are depleted and hunger is high, so they are the first to go in search of food. The early bloomers are therefore among the most important wild bee plants and serve as food sources for the hungry wild bees.
Meadows and pastures are a valuable habitat - not only for the hay milk cows. While the home gardens show more and more crushed stone and gravel in the most dazzling colors and grain sizes or the preparations are already being made for a lawn area that is as flawless as possible in summer, the criteria for perfect agricultural meadows in Austria's largest hay milk region lie somewhere else: when the first rays of sunshine appear When the snow melts and the meadows turn green again, you can find up to 50 different types of fresh grass and herbs on the poor, dry and wet meadows that the Woerle farmers manage. The colorful flora is not only beautiful to look at, but also offers a perfect habitat for numerous insects and small animals.
Peasant women's spring garden
With the right selection of early bloomers, hungry bees and insects will find food in our farmers' gardens from spring to summer.
By the way: Bumblebees are the real early starters among (wild) bees and insects. In some years they are out and about in wind and weather as early as February, when other bees prefer to stay in the warm nest. While many insects only wake up from hibernation at 5 °C and honey bees wait until the thermometer rises above 10 °C, bumblebees start looking for food at temperatures of around 2 to 3 °C. They are thorough and very hard-working. Compared to honey bees, they fly to 3 to 4 times as many flowers every day - even in bad weather. Bumblebees thus contribute significantly to the diversity of species and varieties through their pollination performance and are therefore particularly valuable for the conservation of biodiversity.
Spring work by the beekeepers among the Woerle dairy farmers
In the winter months at regular intervals at the beehive whether the entrance holes are free so that the bees can fly out unhindered on nice days. However, when the temperatures rise above 15 °C, it is time for the beekeepers to do the big "spring check". The bees are already busy on their way to the first early flowering plants to collect their nectar and pollen. But how often do they fly out? Is there still enough food in the hive so that the bees are really fed enough, in addition to the still sparse supply of food from the early bloomers outside? How is the brood? Is the floor clean and tidy? – If everything is in order, the colony can quickly and healthily develop into a strong colony in the spring.
Here we introduce you to some of our dairy farmers, who not only lovingly look after their honey bees 365 days a year, but at the same time strengthen the entire biodiversity and preserve the habitat of wild bees and other insects through their farming methods.
“We have had bees for generations. I'm proud when I get my bees alive and well over the winter, they make such an important contribution to nature."
“We have had honey bees on the farm since 1948. There is almost no day that I don't look at my bees. For me it is important that the honey bees are preserved because they are of great benefit to us farmers.”
“We often go to the bees after work in the barn. It is so relaxing and at the same time fascinating to see what the bees can do. They are so hardworking and every bee in the hive has a specific job and knows what to do.”
“For me, bees and agriculture simply belong together. I would wish that more attention would be paid to the bees and that more flowering plants would be left standing so that they could find enough food.
Photos: Diana Reuter, Konrad Steiner, Petra Wimmer
