My Observation Hive - The Swarm! Bee Hives Reproduce by Swarming

My bees have outgrown their space!
This observation hive is an 8 frame hive, and with the addition of the honey super, it has 10 frames.  That is a nice space for a small hive of bees, but as the population grows, they would like about twice that much space.  The honey super drew the attention of some of the bees, who have worked it and added nectar.  It is not yet all matured into honey.

Over a week ago, I noticed that in addition to the obvious crowding in the hive, there were queen cells being built and tended, in the swarm cell position on the bottom of the frames.  I am keeping an eye on them.
When I looked at the hive on Monday, a beautiful sunny afternoon, I saw that its population was a fraction of what it had been the day before.  we went out looking for the swarm, and found it in a tree in the yard.  A couple of 5 gallon buckets, ladders & such were employed, and most of the bees were successfully transferred to a new hive.  (Details such as carelessly tied nets & stings on scalps aside.)  A little sugar water spray, a little brushing, and they settled in pretty well.  The remaining bees on the outside of the new hive moved to the interior in the morning.

The bees who were clinging most tightly to the branches and didn't get into the buckets to be transported to the new hive had no better option than to return to the observation hive, which they did, as one impressively large and loud group.  I am glad for their return, because the hive has had no pests, but immediately the next day both moths and hive beetles were attempting to enter.  It is surprising how the angry fighting noises of the bees call my attention to these events.  And it is also surprising how quickly the pests were aware of the weakened state of the hive.  The bees have fought off the pests and are busily filling the nicely drawn wax with nectar and pollen.  Much brood remains to hatch out, and some is not even capped yet.

The new outdoor hive resulting from the swarm is nicely established, and when we checked it today we found drawn comb and lots of festooning.  We gave them a proper bottom board and covers, and they are for the moment a healthy independent hive.  They will likely need to be partnered with another hive to be large enough to go through winter, but it is nice that the bees are still here.