U subotu, 25. travnja mladi čuvari prirode Junior Rangeri Nacionalnog parka Krka prisustvovali su pripremi pčela za proljetnu pašu u pčelinjaku
On Saturday, April 25, young nature guards, the Junior Rangers of the Krka National Park, attended the preparation of bees for spring pollinating in the apiary.
For many young rangers, this was their first encounter with an apiary, so they had to be instructed in the rules of conduct and movement near the hives at the very beginning. Working in an apiary requires good quality clothing and closed-toe shoes. Before entering the apiary, the Junior Rangers were introduced to the properties of protective beekeeping suits and gloves, and the real challenge was dressing them properly. Moving around the area in protective suits, although a bit awkward at first, caused a special joy and an optimistic mood.
When entering the apiary, the first thing to do was to consider the layout of the hives and determine the safe places for the beekeepers to move around. The young researchers immediately began asking questions about the differences in the external appearance of the hives, such as the different bright colors and heights of the hives. They carefully watched the lifting of the lid from a hive and then getting to know its parts. They especially watched the inspection of the watch cases for any surprises they might hide.
"Today was the first time we were this close to the hives and observed what was inside them. We learned the difference between weak and strong bee colonies, how to recognize drones and find the queen bee, what are all the roles bees have in nature, how long they live in the summer and how long in the winter, and how much honey they need to leave in the hive to survive the winter," the young nature guards of the Krka National Park said excitedly and emphasized: "Bees are very interesting, because, for example, one teaspoon of honey requires the dedicated work of as many as ten bees."
The Krka National Park is currently investigating the amount of interest in establishing a small beekeeping school, during which Junior Rangers would be more actively involved in working with bees. In order to be able to monitor the development of the bee community, the young nature guards of Krka NP would have their own hives. The greatest interest and activity in the apiary is required in spring and autumn.