“As the saying goes, not every place you fit in is where you belong.”
This was the opening sentence of an email that I have recently received from my friend Jolene. And no, she wasn’t preaching anything. Being an avid bird lover, she had set up multiple feeders for hummingbirds in her garden. But soon, those feeders became virtual magnets for bees.
Now, you may be wondering that having bees in the yard is nothing to be wary of. However, too many insects feeding on a single source of sugar water can make it contaminated. And as the monopoly increases gradually, it makes the feeder completely unsuitable for the birds.
With immense faith in my research skills, Jolene reached out to me for help. And I wasted no time in doing the required research to assist her.
Hi! I’m Stacy, and today, I have curated this extensive guide on how to keep bees away from hummingbird feeder. Let’s start, then!One of the best ways to prevent bee invasion from the get-go is by choosing the right kind of hummingbird feeder. In this regard, a dish or saucer feeder, which is nothing but a covered saucer will help you eliminate the problem.
The small feeding ports in this feeder type are easily accessible to hummingbirds with their long bills, but not to bees. To make it even more effective, opt for the color red as bees aren’t attracted to it.
Similarly, avoid yellow feeders to minimize their appeal to bees. In case it has any yellow attachments, I’d suggest either removing them (if feasible) or repainting with non-toxic red paint. You can also choose a feeder that has bee guards, which block the entrance of insects and bees without bothering hummingbirds.
Another easy way to keep your feeders from bees is by relocating them often. While hummingbirds look around for food or water in an area they visit, bees are more inclined towards convenient feeding sources. They usually don’t follow a feeder when its location is changed, and you can use this to your advantage.
By simply moving the feeder to the next tree, you can successfully alter the path of the bees without troubling the hummingbirds. However, there are a couple of relocation thumb rules that you should keep in mind.
For instance, most flying insects prefer feeding in full sunlight, so you’d want to hang the feeder in a shaded spot. This will also prevent the nectar from getting warm and slow down the fermentation process, thereby preventing leaks.
As the name suggests, insect traps help reduce the overall insect population in the garden. Sure, they are among the most effective deterrents, but you’d still want to use them judiciously.
If you drive out all the insects, it can potentially disrupt the local ecosystem in the yard and may even prevent pollination. So, reserve the traps for targeted use and remove them immediately when the bees disappear.
During feeding, some nectar will invariably fall from the bills of the hummingbirds and on the feeder or other adjoining areas. Not only that, but the nectar can also leak from the feeder when it’s filled to the brim. This is caused by the resultant air pressure especially on hot days, which entices bees.
Hence, it’s important to clean the feeder regularly. Carefully go over the ports during and after refilling. Again, don’t fill the feeder all the way to the brim. If you notice any damaged attachments, replace it immediately, or even better, change the feeder altogether.
Likewise, keep the garden free from any uncovered trash, soda cans, open manure, or any such things that may attract bees and other insects.
When there are multiple nectar sources to choose from, bees are likely to avoid the less sweet ones. If your feeder is surrounded by a lot of flowering plants (like daisies, zinnias, lavender, etc.), then consider diluting the solution in your feeder. I use 5 parts water and 1 part sugar, but you can alter it according to the size of the feeder.
At the same time, use a couple of alternative feeders with a sweeter sugar solution to keep the bees completely engaged. You can start with a 3:1 sugar to water ratio and adjust the portions as required. I’d advise using yellow feeders for this purpose as the color is inherently attractive for these insects.
Depending on the space available, location, soil, and weather conditions, you can curate a small pollinator garden in your yard. Since bees pollinate over 80% of all flowering plants, having them in the vicinity will help keep your hummingbird feeder bee-free.
I like mixing annuals and perennials, including flowers that have staggered bloom times. This is a good way to ensure enough nectar for the bees for quite some time.
Never use any insecticides or pesticides on your hummingbird feeder. Even the slightest amount of chemicals can be fatal for these birds. Also, oils, cooking sprays, Vaseline, or any such lubricants can stick to the feather on their bodies, making preening and flying practically impossible.
With that, it’s time for me to wrap up today’s proceedings.
I hope my efforts have helped you find at least one credible answer for how to keep bees off hummingbird feeder. But feel free to combine two or more methods. After all, what’s meant for hummingbirds should stay for hummingbirds! And in doing so, also keep an eye out for the overall ecological balance in your yard.
I’ll now take your leave. See you next time with more such content. Till then, take care!
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