village in North Carolina

Honey bee forage in Bald Head Island, North Carolina

Estimated forage here is better than about 1% of sites in North Carolina. Against other North Carolina sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in spring (below the 1st). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, less than 0.1 mi away.

When is the honey flow in Bald Head Island?

  • First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
  • Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 31 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster))
  • Season ends: Oct 31
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Bald Head Island, 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 Mar 10.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
  • Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, dandelion; amber, likely to set over some months
  • Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
  • Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers; light amber, likely to set over some months

Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.

Bee crops within flight range

No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.

The land and water around Bald Head Island

Mostly: Open water; Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh; Barren.

Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.05 mi NE.

How Bald Head Island ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US23rd55th17th60th
North Carolina1stbelow the 1st7th100th
Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain2nd7th18th97th

Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.

About 56% 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 Bald Head Island: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Caswell Beach 5 mi · Southport 5 mi · Oak Island 9 mi · St. James 9 mi · Kure Beach 10 mi · Carolina Beach 13 mi

All towns in North Carolina · 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 Bald Head Island (33.8663, -77.9809); 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.