Sunny day feeding

amandrea · November 06, 2007, 10:36:46 PM

Thought it was so nice and warm I'd feed my bees some. Put the syrup in a dish a few feet from the hive and they found it quickly. Put some more in a small dish that I held in my hand and they would land on me and walk over to sip. Such a pleasurable experience! Looking forward to doing it again real soon.

utahbeekeeper · November 06, 2007, 11:14:11 PM

Amandrea . . . I have patiently done that with hummingbirds, but never thought to do that with bees. You are the envy of many like myself who have a hard time slowing down now and then to actually "feed the bees". I am sure you have stopped to smell many roses along your life's pathway. What a great post. Bee well!! JP

Cindi · November 07, 2007, 12:39:55 AM

Amandrea. That was very sweet, wouldn't it be nice if everyone shared this passion for the love of the bees?

Utahbeekeeper. Yes, and to have a hummingbird feeding from your hand, beautiful. Have a wonderful and beautiful day in our great life. Cindi

Finsky · November 07, 2007, 12:44:18 AM

.
It is nice , but it means often robbing trials between hives and hundreds of bees will be killed.

Michael Bush · November 07, 2007, 08:10:18 AM

>Such a pleasurable experience! Looking forward to doing it again real soon.

After seeing a few feeding frenzys, that sounds quite peaceable.

amandrea · November 11, 2007, 02:19:07 PM

I forgot to mention my main reason for posting. As I held the feeder dish from time to time one would give the appearance of scenting, head down, tail up. Never heard of this, scenting from a feeder?

Brian D. Bray · November 11, 2007, 09:55:57 PM

Quote from: amandrea on November 11, 2007, 02:19:07 PM
I forgot to mention my main reason for posting. As I held the feeder dish from time to time one would give the appearance of scenting, head down, tail up. Never heard of this, scenting from a feeder?

That bee will go back to the hive and give a waggle dance--"Hey folks, I've found nectar!" The scenting is the 1st part of the dance--the bee is pushing the scent of the syrup into the air to attract other bees to the sight. Watch what happens on a fruit tree or a flower garden (all the same type of flower) the 1st day of bloom--bees doing just as you describe. You inspect the hives and you'll see hundred, if not thousands, of bees doing the dance.

Michael Bush · November 11, 2007, 10:33:10 PM

I think they try to leave some pheromones to guide the recruited foragers.