This seems strange to me, but the bees are going to my bird feeder and collecting the flour-like dust on the seed, and hauling it like pollen to the hive. They get so covered with the dust they even have trouble flying. I decided to take the feeder away from them over concerns about possible treatment of the seed with a fungicide during processing. Has anyone ever seen this behavior? Maybe my bees have delusions of bird-grandeur or some form of identity confusion?
they are looking for any protein source they can get this time of year - and the dust rom the bird seed is just that... as close as they will get to pollen.
Yep, mine are still loading up with grain dust from the cracked corn out of the beef feeder every chance they get.
Joel
It's pretty common for folks that watch their bird feeders. When you see this occuring it is a great time to put out a dry pollen supplement. At least in my location and region.
My bees invad my woodshop every chance they get. They load up on saw dust and off they go.
Quote from: Aint Bee on January 31, 2012, 04:10:51 PM... This seems strange... but the bees are going to my bird feeder and collecting the flour-like dust on the seed, and hauling it like pollen to the hive... They get so covered with the dust they even have trouble flying...
Maybe instead of taking a resource away from your bees you should look into giving them one, a pollen substitute. They seem to really want to get with the program of making you a lot of honey (providing the weather cooperates) why not help them?