So we think of winter as a time to settle down pull inward, rest. Bees on the other hand despite what you would expect keep the heat on and maintain a cohesive cluster to maintain warmth as the thermometer heads downward. If by chance the air temperature should rise into the 40’s or even the 50’s for a “January thaw” bees will enjoy a “cleansing” flight to relieve themselves on usually snow covered landscape. The snow spotted with bee poop and a few dead bees deposited in front of the hives is always reassuring that there will be some survivors come spring. Periodically throughout the winter I will put my ear up close to hive on even the coldest days and listen to the comforting murmur of a colony exercising their tiny muscles to generate the warmth that carries them through until warmer weather arrives. Its early January with only about nine hours of daylight, but the afternoons are gaining a minute of light each day and soon the morning will too.