community in New York
Honey bee forage in MacDonnell Heights, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 86% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in spring (95th percentile) and lowest in summer (65th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.8 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.9 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); clover and wildflowers (nearest 1.8 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in MacDonnell Heights?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of MacDonnell Heights, 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 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; 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
- Corn: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi SE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 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 MacDonnell Heights
Mostly: Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.24 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 50% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How MacDonnell Heights ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 82nd | 67th | 67th |
| New York | 86th | 95th | 65th | 84th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 92nd | 93rd | 88th | 80th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 52% 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 MacDonnell Heights: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Arlington 2 mi · Vassar College 3 mi · Pleasant Valley 3 mi · Fairview 3 mi · Poughkeepsie 3 mi · Titusville 4 mi
All towns in New York · 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 MacDonnell Heights (41.7165, -73.8606); 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.