Why can a strong honeybee colony starve in early spring?

A strong honeybee colony can starve in early spring because it may exhaust its honey stores just days before natural nectar sources become abundant in the environment.1

During the winter, colonies rely on these stored reserves to survive and maintain the heat necessary for the cluster. As spring approaches, the colony begins to expand its broodnest, which increases the demand for energy. If the winter has been long or the colony is particularly large, the bees may consume their remaining food supply before the first flowers bloom.231

Beekeepers can prevent this loss by performing an examination in early spring and providing supplemental feed, such as sugar syrup or a honey-filled comb from a more prosperous colony, to sustain the bees until natural forage is available.1