'I remember reading, but can't locate where, how a colonies reaction to
drones is related to pollen availability.

A good reference always is  Mark Winston, Biology of the Honey Bee.
Chapter
12 'Drones Queens and Mating' makes pretty clear that whether drones
cells
are built, and drones are raised or kept depends on resource
availability
and the extent of possible need for drones for mating - either a home
produced queen or one from another hive (which would still spread the
genes). It's a ruthless world in there - no need for them to perform and
out
they go, fumbly bumbly though they may be.

Robin Dartington

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