Record low losses for winter 2018/2019 bbka news

[Chrisbarlow]

The annual survey carried out by the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA ) to measure winter survival of honeybees shows that losses at 8.5% are at their lowest since the current survey programme was started in 2007/08

https://www.bbka.org.uk/news/record-low-level-of-winter-losses-of-honeybees

[Japey Edge]

We didn't have a particularly bad winter this year up in County Durham. Stats like that can be unfair if comparing to beast from the east last year.

Still, it's a good stat. Let's hope we can keep it low

[AdamD]

Meanwhile in the USA
"U.S. Beekeepers Lost Over 40% of Colonies During the Last Year, With Annual Survey Showing Winter Losses as the Highest Ever Recorded"

https://beeinformed.org/results/2018-2019/

[Chrisbarlow]

We didn't have a particularly bad winter this year up in County Durham. Stats like that can be unfair if comparing to beast from the east last year.

Still, it's a good stat. Let's hope we can keep it low

I agree it was an easy winter but that still doesnt mean people wont lose colonies but in this case, far fewer folk lost bees.

[Japey Edge]

I'm too much of a newbie to know the other variables Chris but I'm sure I'll learn something over the next winter.

I'd be devastated if I lost any

[NigelP]

Meanwhile in the USA
"U.S. Beekeepers Lost Over 40% of Colonies During the Last Year, With Annual Survey Showing Winter Losses as the Highest Ever Recorded"

https://beeinformed.org/results/2018-2019/

I think the clue is in less than 5000 beekeepers in USA responded to survey...
I'me sure if this was a representative loss across whole of USA ABJ would have mentioned it in passing.

[MickBBKA]

I didn't respond to the survey as its a Southern biased survey. Due to the usual cold, windy Spring I had not carried out any inspections at that time. For it to be a national reflection it would be better carried out at the end of May.

[AdamD]

Meanwhile in the USA
"U.S. Beekeepers Lost Over 40% of Colonies During the Last Year, With Annual Survey Showing Winter Losses as the Highest Ever Recorded"

https://beeinformed.org/results/2018-2019/

I think the clue is in less than 5000 beekeepers in USA responded to survey...
I'me sure if this was a representative loss across whole of USA ABJ would have mentioned it in passing.

It was in an ABJ newsletter but I couldn't get the link. (A mailchimp thing perhaps although I have been able to link to their news before).

[AdamD]

I didn't respond to the survey as its a Southern biased survey. Due to the usual cold, windy Spring I had not carried out any inspections at that time. For it to be a national reflection it would be better carried out at the end of May.

The end of May would be late for me Mick with the season in full swing - although valid for the survey I guess. I think I had an early supercedure later in April of a queen that was not much good. She was apparently OK in April so that could have counted to another loss?

Still it's good that losses were small. I think there is no reason why losses should be much more than that during any winter.

[NigelP]

It was in an ABJ newsletter but I couldn't get the link. (A mailchimp thing perhaps although I have been able to link to their news before).

I'm an ABJ subscriber, but not seen this.