David Crawford wrote:
 
> There were several hundreds of bees sitting on the moist  dirt,  I
> assume  drawing  water.   The  12  hives  that were using the dirt
> water, sit 10' to 20' from a year  around  creek.   Why  did  they
> choose the dirty, fertilized water?  Minerals?
 
Hi, you may get a more complete answer later.  Bees don't seem  to
much like fresh or running water.  Their own personal safety seems
likely to be a major reason, if they have to use  moving  or  deep
water they risk drowning.  I think that wet earth is usually their
favourite place.  In my garden pond they  use  the  boggy  margins
every time.  I guess that they are likely to pick up minerals from
dirty water -- I doubt that they want the fertiliser itself :-)
 
Regards,
--
Gordon Scott          [log in to unmask]   Compuserve 100332,3310
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Basingstoke Beekeeper [log in to unmask]