It's official- worst Spring for bees in SA in decades

I find this interesting as my thinking goes the other way. To me wild colonies have not had their stores robbed so should have food and unlike bought queens which are bred for honey production wild bees are more survivor bees woven into the environment.
Yes swarms from bought queen colonies that have gone wild could be exceptions. I have a colony in a tree that has been there as long as I remember which just keeps going and going through all conditions.

I’m in an area of dearth currently and I regularly lift the hives to gauge the weight. 3 years ago it was the worst season in decades here, no honey, the following ordinary then last year a bumper.
Urban gardens certainly provide for the bees, I met someone urban recently who had just harvested, honey comb in the lid n all. Yet up here, not so urban, weight is reducing and comb production at a stand still. Even down the scarp a bit, closer to the 1/4 acre blocks honeys being harvested…
It’s the smaller colonies like cast swarms and recent splits that are the most vulnerable from lack of stores and robbing.