Every night, lots of honey bees sit on the rim of my birdbath and drink, I've never seen this, normal?

Question

I live in Michigan and I've never seen this before in my 49 years.

Answer 1

Have the days been unusually hot?  Honeybees are known to collect water to cool the hive-- the second article listed says they pour it over the combs, and produce air movement by whirring their wings.  The developing bees need to be kept at 95-97 degrees F.

According to the third, rather technical, article, Africanized honeybees and a few other species are able to forage on bright nights.  It says that the structure of honeybee eyes (a cluster of very simple lenses) prevents their seeing well at night.  It seems that such small lenses can't gather enough light at night for images to be made out.  The ones that forage at night have some special adaptations.

Maybe there is an unusual amount of light around your house and/or the night was unusually bright and there is, as one answerer suggested, a hive nearby.  

Answer 2

Honey bees navigate primarily by the sun so I would guess that is very unusual.  You probably have a nearby hive that learned to make the short trip.

Answer 3

Could be proof of bees evolving into birds.  Call National Geographic or the Enquirer.