Save the bees! But how? | Brandon Dawson | TEDxDuke

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

I’d like to begin by addressing the

I’d like to begin by addressing the white elephant that enters the room any

white elephant that enters the room any

white elephant that enters the room any time someone talks about bees this would

time someone talks about bees this would

time someone talks about bees this would be the bee movie in case you aren’t

be the bee movie in case you aren’t

be the bee movie in case you aren’t familiar this 2007 film depicts the life

familiar this 2007 film depicts the life

familiar this 2007 film depicts the life of a bee who falls in love with a human

of a bee who falls in love with a human

of a bee who falls in love with a human and quote as their relationship blossoms

and quote as their relationship blossoms

and quote as their relationship blossoms discovers that humans actually eat honey

discovers that humans actually eat honey

discovers that humans actually eat honey and subsequently decides to sue them so

and subsequently decides to sue them so

and subsequently decides to sue them so I’d like to debunk a few of the

I’d like to debunk a few of the

I’d like to debunk a few of the misconceptions that this movie could

misconceptions that this movie could

misconceptions that this movie could create one bees in case you did not know

create one bees in case you did not know

create one bees in case you did not know cannot talk to humans as a result – they

cannot talk to humans as a result – they

cannot talk to humans as a result – they cannot fall in love with humans and

cannot fall in love with humans and

cannot fall in love with humans and three beekeepers are not the bad guys

three beekeepers are not the bad guys

three beekeepers are not the bad guys you see this movie depicts beekeepers as

you see this movie depicts beekeepers as

you see this movie depicts beekeepers as these ominous people who enslave the

these ominous people who enslave the

these ominous people who enslave the bees and steal from them when in fact

bees and steal from them when in fact

bees and steal from them when in fact this couldn’t be more wrong beekeepers

this couldn’t be more wrong beekeepers

this couldn’t be more wrong beekeepers are their biggest supporter and right

are their biggest supporter and right

are their biggest supporter and right now they need all the help they can get

now they need all the help they can get

now they need all the help they can get now in my freshman year of high school I

now in my freshman year of high school I

now in my freshman year of high school I got involved with beekeeping through a

got involved with beekeeping through a

got involved with beekeeping through a classroom now I had been looking for a

classroom now I had been looking for a

classroom now I had been looking for a project for my environmental science

project for my environmental science

project for my environmental science class and had always known some

class and had always known some

class and had always known some beekeepers as family friends my

beekeepers as family friends my

beekeepers as family friends my beekeeping knowledge didn’t extend past

beekeeping knowledge didn’t extend past

beekeeping knowledge didn’t extend past what I’d seen in the bee movie so I

what I’d seen in the bee movie so I

what I’d seen in the bee movie so I asked for them to get me started

asked for them to get me started

asked for them to get me started ever since I’ve had hives in my backyard

ever since I’ve had hives in my backyard

ever since I’ve had hives in my backyard now most people ask will what do you do

now most people ask will what do you do

now most people ask will what do you do you know how does one keep bees so I

you know how does one keep bees so I

you know how does one keep bees so I think a good start is being able to

think a good start is being able to

think a good start is being able to identify a honeybee

identify a honeybee

identify a honeybee so first up on the left here you have a

so first up on the left here you have a

so first up on the left here you have a common honeybee then you have a bumble

common honeybee then you have a bumble

common honeybee then you have a bumble bee and a yellowjacket right off the bat

bee and a yellowjacket right off the bat

bee and a yellowjacket right off the bat we have differences in appearance in

we have differences in appearance in

we have differences in appearance in terms of size color and fur now most

terms of size color and fur now most

terms of size color and fur now most people look at these and they think

people look at these and they think

people look at these and they think stinging but in fact they all behave

stinging but in fact they all behave

stinging but in fact they all behave quite differently now honeybees are

quite differently now honeybees are

quite differently now honeybees are generally very docile creatures and it’s

generally very docile creatures and it’s

generally very docile creatures and it’s not in their

not in their

not in their interests to sting you when they do

interests to sting you when they do

interests to sting you when they do their barbed stingers are ripped from

their barbed stingers are ripped from

their barbed stingers are ripped from their bodies and they die as a result

their bodies and they die as a result

their bodies and they die as a result therefore they only use stinging as a

therefore they only use stinging as a

therefore they only use stinging as a last resort the other two don’t have

last resort the other two don’t have

last resort the other two don’t have barbed stingers and in fact

barbed stingers and in fact

barbed stingers and in fact Yellowjackets are much much more

Yellowjackets are much much more

Yellowjackets are much much more aggressive now even amongst the hives we

aggressive now even amongst the hives we

aggressive now even amongst the hives we have three different types of bees

have three different types of bees

have three different types of bees you have the worker bee a drone and the

you have the worker bee a drone and the

you have the worker bee a drone and the Queen now worker bees are female bees

Queen now worker bees are female bees

Queen now worker bees are female bees that don’t have the ability to produce a

that don’t have the ability to produce a

that don’t have the ability to produce a fertilized egg in her short time above

fertilized egg in her short time above

fertilized egg in her short time above about four to six weeks the worker bee

about four to six weeks the worker bee

about four to six weeks the worker bee is the powerhouse of the hive she has a

is the powerhouse of the hive she has a

is the powerhouse of the hive she has a number of jobs to complete including the

number of jobs to complete including the

number of jobs to complete including the collection of pollen and nectar the

collection of pollen and nectar the

collection of pollen and nectar the creation of honey and beeswax and

creation of honey and beeswax and

creation of honey and beeswax and protecting the hive now unlike what we

protecting the hive now unlike what we

protecting the hive now unlike what we see in the bee movie where bees were

see in the bee movie where bees were

see in the bee movie where bees were assigned to one job to complete their

assigned to one job to complete their

assigned to one job to complete their entire life as a female worker bee gets

entire life as a female worker bee gets

entire life as a female worker bee gets older her jobs progressed through the

older her jobs progressed through the

older her jobs progressed through the hive and she starts completing different

hive and she starts completing different

hive and she starts completing different tasks next we have the drone drones are

tasks next we have the drone drones are

tasks next we have the drone drones are male bees and their purpose is to leave

male bees and their purpose is to leave

male bees and their purpose is to leave the hive in search of a virgin queen to

the hive in search of a virgin queen to

the hive in search of a virgin queen to mate with therefore extending the

mate with therefore extending the

mate with therefore extending the genetic diversity of their colony if

genetic diversity of their colony if

genetic diversity of their colony if they do so they die if not they return

they do so they die if not they return

they do so they die if not they return to the hive and are later evicted for

to the hive and are later evicted for

to the hive and are later evicted for the winter now finally and notably the

the winter now finally and notably the

the winter now finally and notably the most well known of the three is the

most well known of the three is the

most well known of the three is the queen bee oh not that one now the queen

queen bee oh not that one now the queen

queen bee oh not that one now the queen bee there will only be one of which in

bee there will only be one of which in

bee there will only be one of which in each colony as you can see here the

each colony as you can see here the

each colony as you can see here the queen is often two and a half times the

queen is often two and a half times the

queen is often two and a half times the size of your average worker being early

size of your average worker being early

size of your average worker being early on in her life a queen will leave the

on in her life a queen will leave the

on in her life a queen will leave the hive in search of a group of drones to

hive in search of a group of drones to

hive in search of a group of drones to mate with and then will return to start

mate with and then will return to start

mate with and then will return to start her colony never having to mate again

her colony never having to mate again

her colony never having to mate again during her four to six years in life

during her four to six years in life

during her four to six years in life because she can store that sperm for her

because she can store that sperm for her

because she can store that sperm for her entire life

entire life

entire life now her role within the hive is to then

now her role within the hive is to then

now her role within the hive is to then lay eggs essentially choosing when to

lay eggs essentially choosing when to

lay eggs essentially choosing when to lay a fertilized egg resulting in a

lay a fertilized egg resulting in a

lay a fertilized egg resulting in a worker bee or an unfertilized egg

worker bee or an unfertilized egg

worker bee or an unfertilized egg resulting in a drone so where do

resulting in a drone so where do

resulting in a drone so where do beekeepers fit into all of this well

beekeepers fit into all of this well

beekeepers fit into all of this well first and foremost

first and foremost

first and foremost the role of a beekeeper is not to steal

the role of a beekeeper is not to steal

the role of a beekeeper is not to steal from the hive the relationship is in

from the hive the relationship is in

from the hive the relationship is in fact symbiotic one where beekeepers work

fact symbiotic one where beekeepers work

fact symbiotic one where beekeepers work year-round to ensure the overall hive

year-round to ensure the overall hive

year-round to ensure the overall hive health for these bees and as a result

health for these bees and as a result

health for these bees and as a result they get to collect surplus at the end

they get to collect surplus at the end

they get to collect surplus at the end of the year so bees store their honey in

of the year so bees store their honey in

of the year so bees store their honey in honeycomb which they then capped with

honeycomb which they then capped with

honeycomb which they then capped with beeswax so that it doesn’t ferment

beeswax so that it doesn’t ferment

beeswax so that it doesn’t ferment therefore what beekeepers do is they’ll

therefore what beekeepers do is they’ll

therefore what beekeepers do is they’ll remove the frames that have capped honey

remove the frames that have capped honey

remove the frames that have capped honey and replace them with new frames they

and replace them with new frames they

and replace them with new frames they then remove the beeswax caps and put

then remove the beeswax caps and put

then remove the beeswax caps and put these frames in a large centrifuge which

these frames in a large centrifuge which

these frames in a large centrifuge which extracts the honey which can then be

extracts the honey which can then be

extracts the honey which can then be bottled and used later this beeswax can

bottled and used later this beeswax can

bottled and used later this beeswax can also be melted down and used for things

also be melted down and used for things

also be melted down and used for things like candles lip balms or soap now

like candles lip balms or soap now

like candles lip balms or soap now beekeepers also do a lot more than just

beekeepers also do a lot more than just

beekeepers also do a lot more than just extract honey like I said throughout the

extract honey like I said throughout the

extract honey like I said throughout the year they’re constantly looking for

year they’re constantly looking for

year they’re constantly looking for signs of disease and pests and

signs of disease and pests and

signs of disease and pests and maintaining the overall health and they

maintaining the overall health and they

maintaining the overall health and they also come in handy during a swarm now

also come in handy during a swarm now

also come in handy during a swarm now how many times have we seen images like

how many times have we seen images like

how many times have we seen images like this one where in movies or in cartoons

this one where in movies or in cartoons

this one where in movies or in cartoons you have a cloud of bees chasing after

you have a cloud of bees chasing after

you have a cloud of bees chasing after your character in revenge for honey well

your character in revenge for honey well

your character in revenge for honey well in reality a swarm is much much more

in reality a swarm is much much more

in reality a swarm is much much more practical swarms are a natural

practical swarms are a natural

practical swarms are a natural phenomenon in colony of reproduction

phenomenon in colony of reproduction

phenomenon in colony of reproduction what happens is the worker bees

what happens is the worker bees

what happens is the worker bees essentially create a new queen so that

essentially create a new queen so that

essentially create a new queen so that she can leave and start her own colony

she can leave and start her own colony

she can leave and start her own colony when she does so the queen can often

when she does so the queen can often

when she does so the queen can often take up to 60% of the worker bees with

take up to 60% of the worker bees with

take up to 60% of the worker bees with her meaning thousands upon thousands of

her meaning thousands upon thousands of

her meaning thousands upon thousands of bees leaving the hive at once which can

bees leaving the hive at once which can

bees leaving the hive at once which can look quite alarming now in the days

look quite alarming now in the days

look quite alarming now in the days leading up to this mass exodus Scouts

leading up to this mass exodus Scouts

leading up to this mass exodus Scouts are sent out into the surrounding area

are sent out into the surrounding area

are sent out into the surrounding area to look for potential places to host

to look for potential places to host

to look for potential places to host this new hive this could take the form

this new hive this could take the form

this new hive this could take the form of say a hollowed-out tree or even a

of say a hollowed-out tree or even a

of say a hollowed-out tree or even a hole in the railing on your porch thus

hole in the railing on your porch thus

hole in the railing on your porch thus leading to the fear if you look here

leading to the fear if you look here

leading to the fear if you look here you’ll see a hive that had swarmed in my

you’ll see a hive that had swarmed in my

you’ll see a hive that had swarmed in my backyard

backyard

backyard it created a very very large clump

it created a very very large clump

it created a very very large clump around a small sapling in a tree luckily

around a small sapling in a tree luckily

around a small sapling in a tree luckily we were able to collect the swarm and

we were able to collect the swarm and

we were able to collect the swarm and put them in a new hive to start their

put them in a new hive to start their

put them in a new hive to start their colony so what’s the purpose of all of

colony so what’s the purpose of all of

colony so what’s the purpose of all of this what’s the point

this what’s the point

this what’s the point you know we often hear the phrase save

you know we often hear the phrase save

you know we often hear the phrase save the bees but what does that mean today

the bees but what does that mean today

the bees but what does that mean today the global populations of honeybees are

the global populations of honeybees are

the global populations of honeybees are declining at an alarming rate and this

declining at an alarming rate and this

declining at an alarming rate and this is something that affects every single

is something that affects every single

is something that affects every single one of us now you see honeybees provide

one of us now you see honeybees provide

one of us now you see honeybees provide a plethora of economic and environmental

a plethora of economic and environmental

a plethora of economic and environmental advantages to our planet through

advantages to our planet through

advantages to our planet through pollination it’s estimated that over 1/3

pollination it’s estimated that over 1/3

pollination it’s estimated that over 1/3 of all food grown on this planet is

of all food grown on this planet is

of all food grown on this planet is pollinated by honeybees this means that

pollinated by honeybees this means that

pollinated by honeybees this means that without this pollination you can say

without this pollination you can say

without this pollination you can say goodbye to things like watermelons

goodbye to things like watermelons

goodbye to things like watermelons apples cashews and even coffee so in

apples cashews and even coffee so in

apples cashews and even coffee so in order to fix this we are going to need

order to fix this we are going to need

order to fix this we are going to need to see more of an improvement in social

to see more of an improvement in social

to see more of an improvement in social pam panes like the save the bees

pam panes like the save the bees

pam panes like the save the bees campaign coupled with legislation now

campaign coupled with legislation now

campaign coupled with legislation now fortunately we’ve begun to see this on a

fortunately we’ve begun to see this on a

fortunately we’ve begun to see this on a national level former President Obama

national level former President Obama

national level former President Obama put in place a presidential memorandum

put in place a presidential memorandum

put in place a presidential memorandum that started a national pollinator task

that started a national pollinator task

that started a national pollinator task force under the EPA and the Department

force under the EPA and the Department

force under the EPA and the Department of Agriculture this task force has goals

of Agriculture this task force has goals

of Agriculture this task force has goals in increasing the global populations of

in increasing the global populations of

in increasing the global populations of honeybees and pollinators like them

honeybees and pollinators like them

honeybees and pollinators like them doing so with action steps including

doing so with action steps including

doing so with action steps including pesticide control or land management and

pesticide control or land management and

pesticide control or land management and it also increases research into the

it also increases research into the

it also increases research into the different factors that are affecting the

different factors that are affecting the

different factors that are affecting the population loss like pesticide use

population loss like pesticide use

population loss like pesticide use disease and climate change now in order

disease and climate change now in order

disease and climate change now in order for things like this to be effective we

for things like this to be effective we

for things like this to be effective we not only need to see it on a national

not only need to see it on a national

not only need to see it on a national scale but just as important is the

scale but just as important is the

scale but just as important is the grassroots activism that we see

grassroots activism that we see

grassroots activism that we see happening in cities all over the world

happening in cities all over the world

happening in cities all over the world so let’s look at Durham three years ago

so let’s look at Durham three years ago

so let’s look at Durham three years ago honeybees were included in the local

honeybees were included in the local

honeybees were included in the local city ordinance under livestock the

city ordinance under livestock the

city ordinance under livestock the ordinance stated that any citizen could

ordinance stated that any citizen could

ordinance stated that any citizen could have as much livestock as they wanted as

have as much livestock as they wanted as

have as much livestock as they wanted as long as it’s stayed on their property

long as it’s stayed on their property

long as it’s stayed on their property now because bees pollinate 4 miles

now because bees pollinate 4 miles

now because bees pollinate 4 miles beyond their hive you can see how this

beyond their hive you can see how this

beyond their hive you can see how this became problematic for beekeepers so one

became problematic for beekeepers so one

became problematic for beekeepers so one woman named Donna Devaney set out to

woman named Donna Devaney set out to

woman named Donna Devaney set out to change this Donna started attending the

change this Donna started attending the

change this Donna started attending the city council meetings and petitioning

city council meetings and petitioning

city council meetings and petitioning the City Council with other members of

the City Council with other members of

the City Council with other members of the community

the community

the community she even founded the Durham County

she even founded the Durham County

she even founded the Durham County kiba’s association to assist with this

kiba’s association to assist with this

kiba’s association to assist with this and after a year her hard work paid off

and after a year her hard work paid off

and after a year her hard work paid off so whether it’s national legislation or

so whether it’s national legislation or

so whether it’s national legislation or a local beekeeping organization

a local beekeeping organization

a local beekeeping organization community support is vital it’s vital to

community support is vital it’s vital to

community support is vital it’s vital to the longevity of the honeybee even here

the longevity of the honeybee even here

the longevity of the honeybee even here in Durham we have resources available

in Durham we have resources available

in Durham we have resources available for community members to get involved

for community members to get involved

for community members to get involved the Durham County bee keepers

the Durham County bee keepers

the Durham County bee keepers Association hosts open hive events every

Association hosts open hive events every

Association hosts open hive events every month and they have monthly meetings for

month and they have monthly meetings for

month and they have monthly meetings for community members to come and learn

community members to come and learn

community members to come and learn about these processes they even teach

about these processes they even teach

about these processes they even teach beekeeping classes twice a year if you

beekeeping classes twice a year if you

beekeeping classes twice a year if you find a hive that has swarmed in your

find a hive that has swarmed in your

find a hive that has swarmed in your back yard you can give them a call and

back yard you can give them a call and

back yard you can give them a call and they’ll send someone out to safely

they’ll send someone out to safely

they’ll send someone out to safely quickly and efficiently remove that

quickly and efficiently remove that

quickly and efficiently remove that swarm in your backyard its little of

swarm in your backyard its little of

swarm in your backyard its little of things like this that make the

things like this that make the

things like this that make the difference for everyone so if you want

difference for everyone so if you want

difference for everyone so if you want to help you can attend the meetings if

to help you can attend the meetings if

to help you can attend the meetings if you can’t attend the meetings then take

you can’t attend the meetings then take

you can’t attend the meetings then take a tour at the Burt’s Bees factory here

a tour at the Burt’s Bees factory here

a tour at the Burt’s Bees factory here in Durham if you can’t do that then buy

in Durham if you can’t do that then buy

in Durham if you can’t do that then buy your honey locally and support your

your honey locally and support your

your honey locally and support your local beekeeper you see I’m not asking

local beekeeper you see I’m not asking

local beekeeper you see I’m not asking all of you to leave here and start a

all of you to leave here and start a

all of you to leave here and start a hive in your backyard

hive in your backyard

hive in your backyard if you want to do that that’s fantastic

if you want to do that that’s fantastic

if you want to do that that’s fantastic please see me during the intermission

please see me during the intermission

please see me during the intermission but what I do want is for you to be

but what I do want is for you to be

but what I do want is for you to be aware of this problem you see this is

aware of this problem you see this is

aware of this problem you see this is something that affects every single one

something that affects every single one

something that affects every single one of us on social media today we’re seeing

of us on social media today we’re seeing

of us on social media today we’re seeing an increase in stories where drones are

an increase in stories where drones are

an increase in stories where drones are being created to replace honey bees and

being created to replace honey bees and

being created to replace honey bees and other pollinators when they go extinct I

other pollinators when they go extinct I

other pollinators when they go extinct I find this to be an extremely sad story

find this to be an extremely sad story

find this to be an extremely sad story so if you enjoy your morning cup of

so if you enjoy your morning cup of

so if you enjoy your morning cup of coffee or like a slice of apple pie this

coffee or like a slice of apple pie this

coffee or like a slice of apple pie this affects you like I said before it

affects you like I said before it

affects you like I said before it affects every single one of you so I

affects every single one of you so I

affects every single one of you so I don’t think it’s too late for this story

don’t think it’s too late for this story

don’t think it’s too late for this story to have a happy ending so let’s change

to have a happy ending so let’s change

to have a happy ending so let’s change the narrative thank you

the narrative thank you

the narrative thank you [Applause]