Not only are they much easier to clean but they don’t have yellow flowers and by their design more bee resistant. ![]() Start over next spring with a bee resistant feeder like one of the Hummzingers by Aspects. This is a method I’ve used for many years with decent results. The bees are not fond of landing on the oil and the hummingbirds do not make contact with them. ![]() If you have a feeder with yellow flowers try applying a little vegetable oil around and on the flower. And regular cleaning will reduce trace amounts of nectar that settles around feeding ports that bees are drawn to. Consider a shadier location and put only enough nectar in the feeder that the birds can consume in 2 or 3 days. Maybe less if the feeder is getting several hours of sun. In 90 degree heat nectar is only good for about 3 days. ![]() All too often when consulting with customers about feeding hummingbirds we find many are not cleaning their feeders regularly, nor are they changing nectar as often as they should. Bees seem to be just as attracted to feeders with just red. I’ve tested this theory at my house and found there is no negligible difference. If you have yellow flowers on your feeder try painting them red with non-toxic paint. If you experience year to year problems with bees you may consider a feeder that does not have yellow decorations (flowers, etc.) It is believed by many that yellow is more of an attractant for bees than for hummingbirds. ![]() This offering should begin to pull the bees away and each day move it a little farther from the hummingbird feeder. Offer this feeder relatively close to where your hummingbird feeders are. Fill so that bees can land on the gravel and get the sugar water. In a shallow container add gravel and a 1 part sugar (white cane sugar) to 2 parts water solution. Making it more sugary (1 to 3 ratio) is of no benefit to hummers and may attract more bees. It’s a fact bees prefer sweeter nectar than the recommended hummingbird nectar (1 part sugar, 4 parts water). So, try any or all of the following tips and we’re pretty sure you will have fair to good results. Mind you these strategies are, and should be, passive given the challenges honey bees are faced with now. There are a variety of things one can do to alleviate the competition between bees and hummingbirds at feeders. Perhaps the most encountered problem at hummingbird feeders this time of year is bees and wasps. This is the time that hummingbirds are most interested in your feeders and are packing on as much weight as possible before making their long journey back to Central and South America. If you have given up on hummingbirds because you did not see any activity earlier in the summer it’s time to give your feeder a good cleaning and make some fresh nectar. And already we are probably experiencing hummingbirds that have been north of us beginning to move through TN and visit feeders as well. Just days ago an active nest was observed at Radnor Lake. Our summer resident hummers are mostly done nesting and youngsters are coming to and beginning to understand feeders. Now it is crucial that your nectar is fresh and your feeders are clean for best results. For the next 4 weeks here in mid-TN we will be experiencing peak hummingbird activity at our feeders.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |