We used to have a wild hive living in our second story
deck (it was built over a roof, they built the hive in the space between)
For about 15 years they lived there and when they reached maximum capacity of the hive they created a second queen and split the hive. They split most years!
Every time the hive split they would find some protected spot not far from the original hive. A bush, another over hang etc.
From there they would send out scouts looking for a new place to build. Once a new spot had been found they would move on. Often this happened with in a day or two of splitting. But once or twice it took a week or so.
Along the way we met a bee keeper. One year when the hive was getting ready to split we called her to collect the hive.
That was a remarkable experience! Apparently bees imprint on there host landscape and even people. While she and her husband kept getting stung (bees getting inside their suits) my son and I stood right in the midst of the mayhem and we're covered in bees but we did not get stung!
Any way the swarm they collected died the same year.
Since wild bees are in decline we never called her again. I would like to think that most of t h e new hives survived when left to their own divices.
I suspect this hive will move on. The
sail cover seems ideaL in many ways but bees need access to pollen and fresh
water. If the's aren't pretty close or if it's too windy, hot or they are harassed by pretitors they will move on quickly.