Bees in the bird feeder

[FlexMedia.tv]

A friend of mine asked me a question, since he thinks I know all about bees and my bees haven't even been delivered yet....every year before the flowers bloom he has only honey bees in his bird feeders. These are like hoppers where you pour the bird seed up top with small holes at the bottom. They get in somehow...a lot of them. When he takes the top off, they all fly out, non aggressive. Some stay at the bottom but when he pours the seeds in, they leave. None are dead. I told him maybe it was the smell of the seeds. Anybody know why so I can sound a little smarter than I am?

Thanks
Art

[indypartridge]

In early spring, before there are abundant sources of pollen, bees often visit bird feeders and collect the 'dust' that settles on the bottom. Sort of their own pollen substitute.

[GSF]

My bees love the bird feed we make up. They are in particularly crazy about white millet. I've even found some of the millet seed in my oil pans where they've dropped in the hive.

That'd be my guess. I'm thinking pollen we couldn't see was still on the millet and they were cleaning it off.

[FlexMedia.tv]

That makes sense.
I'll tell my expert advice I had handy in my head. *wink!*
Art