Hi Lawrence - The best source of water for bees is one that is
continually replenished, if possible. A spring, a dripping faucet, a pet
or livestock watering system that gets cleaned and changed regularly, a
bird bath or fountain that is tended at some interval and not
chlorinated etc.
Bees can get water from foul, stagnant sources, but it
isn't their preference and isn't good for them.
Bees cannot take water from straight sided containers (like a bucket)
without risk of drowning. If this is the container you have, you can
float thick, wide sticks of wood on the top to give them a landing pad.
They prefer a dry edge with shallow approach and prefer rocks or stone
as a landing, as the capillary action of water on the rocks, cement or
stone means they don't have to actually get too close to the water to
take a drink.
Whatever source you have, expect to see some occasional
drowning. Remember that the important thing is the survival of the hive
and not each individual bee. (Very hard for humans to really get) They
only live about 6 weeks anyway.
A water source close to their nest (within a few hundred yards, if
possible) is ideal and will keep them from bothering neighbors who may
have a hot tub or swimming pool. It's far more critical in urban
settings for it to be close. If it is too much of a hassle to locate or
tend one that is close, and you have a water source that works but is
further away, then I would tend that, and not worry about proximity. If
they need the water, they will find it.
Bees use the water primarily as a cooling air conditioner. They take up
water and bring it back to the hive, where the water, combined with
their wing-fanning, helps cool the hive on hot summer days.
Bees are most vulnerable in the Spring (especially cold, wet ones, or
ones with a late killing frost that kills blossoms, and most especially
following a long, hard, very cold winter) or during hot summer drought
conditions when plants can refuse to put out nectar in their blossoms
for weeks at a time. Those might be times that feeding could be helpful.
I generally counsel against it, as we don't want poodle-bees who are
dependent on us, but it can sometimes be the compassionate thing to do,
if things are really harsh.
Your land sounds lovely. Glad to count you among the bee guardians of
the earth.
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