The Volunteer Heroes Rescuing The Downtown Atlanta Bees – 1 Million Bees

Meet the volunteer heroes rescuing the downtown Atlanta bees. Lee Russell and her son, Mark are Atlanta’s unofficial beekeepers and protectors. She is on call by the police and fire departments to remove and save bee hives. After close to a decade, she has never missed a call. That’s not a simple job since the North Georgia Beekeepers Association estimates that over 1 million bees live in downtown Atlanta. I asked where the urban bees found food. Lee told me that the flowers at the Georgia State Capitol, Grant Park, Techwood, and Piedmont Park were their favorite spots.

What about this mega swarm? The swarm of bees flew through downtown Atlanta, surrounded the State Capitol and then headed east towards Oakland Cemetery. Lee stopped them by grabbing a big pan and a spoon and stated tapping as loud as she could. The bees homed in on the sound and settled on a tree. Then she picked them up in big handfuls and moved them over to an empty hive. The trick is to move slowly and gently. All the while Mark tapped on the top of the hive. Lee told me, “The bees move toward the steady noise.” When the hive was full, she relocates them to her farm in Comer, Georgia. At the end of the day, it was another successful rescue of the. downtown Atlanta bees. How sweet it is. This story aired on WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News in 1975

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Long before CNN and Fox News the Traveler series with Andy Johnston was presenting positive, inspirational, uplifting, funny and happy news. This Emmy award winning program showcased amazing people, unusual things, local legends, food finds, outdoor activities, folk art, and family fun. In 2022 the Walter J. Brown Media Archives at the University of Georgia founded The Original Georgia Traveler -- Andy Johnston Collection to preserve and maintain the stories.

The Traveler Series celebrates life and living in U.S. in the 1970s. Nostalgia, small towns, traditional life and the good old days. The stories give us ways to compare then and now. Folklore, music, handcrafts, vanishing America and unusual people. Heartwarming stories, funny stories, personal stories and amazing people are in this collection.

This story is presented for educational and preservation purposes and is covered under Fair Use. At the time it was broadcast the television station had a blanket music license with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. The station maintains that license today. All music used is covered under that agreement.

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