community in California
Honey bee forage in Fort Bidwell, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 52% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in spring (35th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Fort Bidwell?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Fort Bidwell, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on May 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, native wildflowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, spotted and diffuse knapweed, snowberry; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, spotted and diffuse knapweed, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 1,406 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Fort Bidwell
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Sierran-Intermontane Desert Western White Pine-White Fir Woodland; Columbia Plateau Western Juniper Woodland and Savanna.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi E.
How Fort Bidwell ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 53rd | 43rd | 73rd | 81st |
| California | 52nd | 35th | 97th | 98th |
| Northern Basin and Range | 95th | 97th | 95th | 41st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Fort Bidwell: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
New Pine Creek 11 mi · Lake City 15 mi · Cedarville 23 mi · Daphnedale Park 32 mi · Alturas 33 mi · Eagleville 38 mi
All towns in California · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Fort Bidwell (41.8633, -120.1594); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.