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Keeping the bees hydrated....PIC
William81
Member Posts: 25,352 ✭✭✭✭
We have a colony of honey bees living in an opening of a large tree in our front yard....They have been there for well over a decade. Living on a farm, I do whatever I can to help them keep going. We keep the bird feeders full of water for them as well as the birds....
The last couple of weeks have been above average temps and heat indexes in the 105-110 range. When I sit on the porch, there is a continuous in and out of the small bird bath through most of the day. They are cool to watch as they go about their business....
Martha was keeping an eye on them too...
Comments
She seems happy here......we are happy to have her around...
If there is a scarcity of sweet for them to eat I suggest a bag of chicken scratch. Put it out for the wild birds and the bees will have a field day!
My bees love it. I was surprised the first time I saw them all over it.
Martha puts a smile on my face the same as my kitties.
...Honey Bees are cool! I was on a roof (insurance adjuster) and I noticed several bees flying by me with so much pollen on their legs you could see the yellow balls...
...I stopped and just watched the bees, as one after another flew the identical path, approaching the roof, flying over the roof, then out of sight, ALL flying the identical path as they headed for their hive, where ever that was, cool sight...
That is fantastic! Providing water to honey bees. That never occurred to me. And they need more water in hot weather.
Also, remember they can't swim. They need a means to get in and out on foot.
I was told in a bind for water to watch for bees and you may follow them to water.
Way cool.
nice of you to look after them
poor old worker bees they work until they just die to keep the queen happy non stop kind of like most of us
I keep one of those kiddie swimming pools clean and fresh with water for my 2 dogs to cool off. I enjoy sitting in the shade watching them play just about every day. I also notice when the dogs leave the pool, wasps continually fly in and land on the waters edge for a refresher.
I made a deal with most bees a long time ago that I won't mess with them if they don't mess with me. Our agreement has worked out very well over the years except for those darn renegade yellow jackets and bald faced hornets!! Kind of reminds me of our treaties made with our native Americans during the later half of the 19th century! 🤔
I put out a bird bath this year due to our extreme heat and drought. It floored me how fast the birds, bees, and wasps found it. They all drink copiously from it, and the birds bathe. It's only about an inch deep, and I keep some flat river rocks in it as additional perches. I have to refill it at least twice a day, and I clean it daily also. My wife says it's the most entertaining thing I've done in years (jokingly, I hope.)
Way to go William81!!!
Combat Vet VN
D.A.V Life Member
Ever opened a soft drink at a picnic ? 😊.........an old trick taught to me many moons ago is to place a little soft drink in a few saucers scattered in and around sitting on post in my vegetable garden, it helps attract the pollinators and makes for very good crops. No such thing as free meals around my house.....😀
"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
Ever opened a soft drink at a picnic ?
oh ya , just make sure you keep the bees out of the one you're drinking from , it hurts like the devil when you get stung in the tongue
Fold up a piece of old t-shirt material and let it soak up water so the bees can land on it to drink. It makes a wick that stays wet as long as the water is deep enough. Change and wash every couple of days to keep it fresh.
Them flying sting butts also like beer, so always pay attention to an open can or bottle!!