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Water source: the one they ignore and the one they use

#1

The one 10-15’ from hives remains unused. Gets sun. Easy to crawl in. Ignored.

The water source in a simple bird bath about 50’ away in largely shaded area is just so lovely to watch. Bees come and go all day. I have a nice movie off iPhone; no idea how to share.

Photo gives you idea how easy the water source solution can be. Two pools in the area. Bees never go there.

Both bird baths I add water to each 3-5 days. Each has 1/2 mosquito dunk in at all times. Rough edges = no drowned bees.

I got bees this Spring and provided water sources right away. No problems with neighbors.

((Photo on right full of bees; sorry if hard to see. They are lovely to watch.))

image.jpg2000x2000 871 KB

#2

Very nice photos thank you for sharing I like the idea of the mosquito dunk have not tried that yet

Yes early on I read somewhere that the water source needed to be a minimum of 20 feet away in order for the Bee’s to usage to help them feel like they’re foraging. To close they won’t use. Post your video on YouTube and you can link it here similar to this

#3

As Marty has already mentioned, your water source is too close. Reason: you are in the bee flight path and within the cleansing zone (this could be anywhere from 10ft to 50ft) Move your water source further away and to the side away from their flight paths if possible.

#5

WOW and never thought about front side or Back as I have it. That even makes more since now. Several people on here have stated that after reading a few of the post about where the water need to be and they have moved it that, now there bee’s all over there water source where when it was closer they were not. I can see the flight path making a BIG difference.

#6

bees also prefer what we would think is dirty water rather than clean water.
I think the main reason is that dirty water has a much lower surface tension so it’s easier to drink from.

#7

I’ve noticed this too & wonder, if you watch them coming in, if sometimes it’s easier for them to distinguish an edge from which to drink, rather than ending up in the drink.