•Phillip Cairns•

Unambitious beekeeping on the Isle of Newfoundland since 2010.

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

I understand that Elon Musk, the owner of X/Twitter, believes in defunding NPR. If he was in Canada, he'd probably argue to defund the CBC too. That's a dangerous message. Posting content on X/Twitter puts money in his pocket and contributes to his influence, so I'm out.

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

@Isotachtics Thanks. I'm here too, though everything eventually points to YouTube.

https://t.co/QM53zMF3np

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

I understand that Elon Musk, the owner of X/Twitter, believes in defunding NPR. If he was in Canada, he'd probably argue to defund the CBC too. That's a dangerous message. Posting content on X/Twitter puts money in his pocket and contributes to his influence, so I'm out.

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

@HamburgHoney I've had a "Flir One For Android" for some years now. Similar to endoscopes, I'd put it in the Neat But Unnecessary column for most beekeepers who wrap their hives in winter. Infrared thermometers might provide a much cheaper alternative, at least on non-wrapped hives.

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

Building my first poly hive on the island of #Newfoundland. Full video at https://t.co/olz4GNuaN1.

#beekeeping

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

Listening to #honeybees.

#beekeeping in #newfoundland

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

I posted a video at https://t.co/olz4GNuaN1 that provides a good example of what you shouldn't do with your bees at this time of year (below freezing). In the video, I add hard insulation to a hive that should have been wrapped and insulated long ago.

#beekeeping

[McArt Lab @McArtLab]

This is a common disinformation talking point about pollinator declines. Using domesticated honey bee hive numbers to infer that bee populations are increasing is analogous to using domesticated chicken numbers to say bird populations are increasing.

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

The heat signature from a nuc (a teenie tiny beehive) in my backyard.

#beekeeping #thermalimaging #FlirOne

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

@AlyxiaStarling @gunsnrosesgirl3 I don't know many beekeepers who inspect every 4 days. Once a week is usually the most that's required. However, the Flow Hive does seem to promote a romanticized view of beekeeping that appeals mostly to novices who don't know what they're in for.

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

@gunsnrosesgirl3 It's a clever invention, but like most things that go viral in the #beekeeping world, the Flow Hive presents a deceptive and highly idealized image of beekeeping that does not match the reality of beekeeping for most beekeepers.

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

It's not too difficult to spot the cluster inside the hive with a thermal imaging camera on a frosty morning like today. I haven't added wrap or insulation yet.

#beekeeping #thermalimaging

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

I posted a video at https://t.co/olz4GNuaN1 that shows how I recently tested my bees for Nosema without spending much money on expensive lab equipment.

#beekeeping

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

@thebeekeeperfox This is the protocol that I did my best to follow. It explains how to count the number of Nosema spores:

https://t.co/NVLFLdWNcr

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

I just tested one of my colonies for Nosema, the common cold of honey bees. It's got a touch of Nosema (the little rice-like spores), but I'm not concerned. It's a large healthy colony with a tonne of honey. I predict it will get through the winter just fine.

#beekeeping

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

Studies have shown that #beekeeping EpiPens often last 4 years beyond the expiration date, which is good news for #beekeepers on a budget. (I am not a medical professional, so take this information for what it is.)

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

SOLD!

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

I have raw #honey for sale at a much lower price than the going rate in #Newfoundland for anyone willing to pick it up near #StJohns. (Yes, those are food-grade buckets from Canadian Tire.) DM me if interested.
#beekeeping

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

When to add a mouse guard? Now.

#beekeeping

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

I think this #pollen is from a Beech tree, but I was never able to confirm.

#beekeeping

[•Phillip Cairns• @MudSongs]

I figured out how to filter extracted #honey without using any kind of filter. Full video at https://t.co/olz4GNuaN1

#beekeeping