This may be a common sight in late summer and fall.
If you are an avid bird watcher or a nature enthusiast, you likely have hummingbird feeders to attract these colorful and fascinating creatures to your garden. However, the allure of the sweet nectar in the feeders can often attract unwanted guests - bees. While bees are crucial for pollination, they can dominate the feeders, making it challenging for hummingbirds to enjoy their meal peacefully. Here are some tips to keep bees off hummingbird feeders while still maintaining a bee-friendly environment in your garden.
Understanding the Bee-Hummingbird Feeder Dilemma
Hummingbird feeders are designed to attract hummingbirds by offering a sugary solution that mimics flower nectar. Bees are naturally drawn to sugary substances, making them frequent visitors to hummingbird feeders, especially in the late summer. While bees are beneficial pollinators, too many bees around the feeders can deter hummingbirds from feeding. Finding a balance between attracting hummingbirds and deterring bees is essential for creating a harmonious ecosystem in your garden.
Remember that this is a temporary problem that usually lasts only a couple of weeks. The bees will leave!
Strategies to Keep Bees Away
Your Safety
The most important tip is your own safety. Although many of the bees on hummingbird feeders are not aggressive, if you are worried about being stung, take down the feeder or move it to an area where you won't be stung.
2. Use Bee-Proof Feeders
Invest in specially designed bee-proof feeders that have unique features such as bee guards or ports that don't allow for bees to access the nectar. These feeders are designed to allow hummingbirds to feed while keeping bees at bay. Here are a couple of feeders that can help with the issue,
This feeder has bee guards to prevent bees from being able to drink.
Saucer feeders help with the bee problem. Do not fill the reservoir to the top but just put a small amount of nectar in the feeder. Hummingbirds have long tongues and can reach to the bottom, but bees won't be able to reach the nectar.
3. Strategic Feeder Placement
Consider the placement of your feeders to make them less accessible to bees. Hang feeders in shaded areas or use saucer-style feeders* (see photo above). This will make it more challenging for bees to reach the nectar.
4. Choose the Right Nectar Formula
Opt for nectar solutions with a higher concentration of sugar content. Bees are more attracted to higher sugar concentrations, so adjusting the formula in one of your feeders will lure them to that feeder and the hummingbirds can feed at your other feeders.
5. Maintain Clean Feeders
Regularly clean and refill your feeders to prevent fermentation, which can attract more bees.
6. Provide Alternative Food Sources
Distract bees from the hummingbird feeders by offering alternative food sources such as bee-friendly flowering plants or a separate bee feeder with sugar water placed away from the hummingbird feeders. This will divert the bees' attention while still providing them with a food source.
Conclusion
By following these simple yet effective strategies, you can enjoy the beauty of hummingbirds in your garden without the nuisance of bees overtaking their feeders. Remember that bees play a vital role in our ecosystem, so maintaining a balance that allows both bees and hummingbirds to coexist peacefully is key. Implement these steps to create a bee-friendly environment that ensures hummingbirds can thrive and delight you with their presence.
Remember, a little strategic planning can go a long way in creating a welcoming space for your feathered friends.
*The Fat Finch carries a full line of saucer feeders for hummingbirds here.
Master the art of keeping bees off your hummingbird feeders and create a harmonious haven for these delightful creatures in your garden!
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