Waldemar asks about dead bees in the snow and speculates that "providing a 
division board feeder with water reduces the bees' flying."

The most common reason to fly in the winter would seem to be for a 
cleansing flight.

There are also bees performing an undertaker role by removing their 
deceased sisters from the hive creating the litter in the snow.  Actually I 
take that to be a sign that the hive is doing what it is supposed to.  It 
looks devastating at first glance but not so much in the final analysis.  

Water might indeed be necessary to dilute food at times but it is perhaps 
not the primary need for these winter flights.  Water can be obtained from 
condensation and other external melted sources unless it is extremely 
cold.  

I would NOT put a division board feeder with water in the hive because of 
the "thermal load" it would impose on them.  Think about how much heat it 
could take out of the hive in order to keep even a quart of water inside at 
whatever "ambient" temperature there is.  It is probably challenging enough 
to just leave the cluster for food and keep what little heat there is in 
there.

Erik

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