One of the most reliable honey bee hive inspection techniques for winter survival checks is also one of the simplest: look at the landing board. In our backyard in Seattle, we have learned to read the state of the entrance before even opening a hive.
The Landing Board as a Survival Indicator
The photo in this post shows a hive entrance covered in a damp, dirty substance — a mixture of dirt and mildew. This hive is dead. I am not certain what it died of, but winter die-offs are common since varroa mites arrived in Seattle beekeeping. The landing board of a dead hive accumulates grime because no bees are moving through it.
Compare that to a healthy hive: the landing area is clean. Bees in and out keep it clear through constant traffic. Additionally, the bees appear to actively maintain the entrance area — the physical activity of thousands of bees keeps debris from accumulating.
What the Entrance Tells You
For a Seattle urban beekeeper, this visual check is especially valuable in late winter and early spring. Before temperatures climb high enough for a full inspection, the entrance gives you a quick read on hive status. A dirty, quiet entrance on a warm day is a strong sign of a dead-out. A clean entrance with visible bee activity is a sign of a living colony building toward spring.