Like the saying goes “if you can't beat ‘em, join ‘em”. Gardener planting flowers / Shutterstock 6. While it's not advised to move feeders to the complete opposite end of your backyard, moving feeders even four feet will baffle bees without hummingbirds being deterred from feeding. Insects will get discouraged when a food source is no longer convenient. Hummingbirds will search out feeders in a location they have found a food source in before. Moving hummingbird feeders frequently is another way to discourage bees from getting to them. See also: Where to Hang Your Hummingbird Feeder 5. Shadier spots will be less attractive to bees. The shade will also help keep bees away as bees typically feed in full sunlight, hence why you will see them flying from flower to flower in the bright sunshine. Fermented nectar spoils, posing a danger to feeding hummingbirds. Shaded nectar will stay cooler resulting in slower fermentation. Hanging your hummingbird feeders in shaded areas has several potential benefits. Shade keeps us all cooler during the hot summer months. See also: 5 Natural Ways to Keep Ants Out of Your Hummingbird Feeder 4. The adhesive could contaminate the nectar if it's not properly applied. Using plumber's tape where the feeder screws come together will work, so long as the tape doesn't come into contact with the nectar. You can do this by reinforcing the seal between the bottle reservoir and feeder ports. If the leak is steady and more than a light trickle, you will need to plug the leak(s). Dripping sugary nectar is an open invitation to bees. If you're seeing more bees than you've seen before at your feeders, chances are your feeders are leaking. You can also buy hummingbird feeders with built in bee guards. Hummingbirds will be able to continue drinking the nectar. The guard simply makes the feeding hole too small for the bees to get to the nectar. Get Nectar GuardsĪlso sometimes referred to as bee guards, you can buy or make your own for your feeders. Be mindful of decorative accents on the feeder and paint them red to keep them off bees' radar. A red saucer feeder is ideal as the hummingbird's long tongue allows them to reach past the saucer to get to the nectar. While hummingbirds are attracted to red, bees flock to yellow. There is a reason you will find most hummingbird feeders are red. Here are our six top tips for keeping bees out of your hummingbird feeders: 1. Remember that the bee population is decreasing, and pesticides are not only harmful to the bees, but to the hummingbirds you're trying to protect. Even more important, it's vital to do so without resorting to pesticides. If you're planning to hang hummingbird feeders in your yard, it's important to know how to protect these fragile birds from a potentially deadly predator. The hummingbird's slight body mass can not absorb the venom, and just one sting can result in a fatality. With their swift movements, bees are capable of easily attacking the hummingbird. Bees pose a significant risk to the delicate hummingbird. Like the hummingbird, bees have a sweet tooth and nectar filled hummingbird feeders attract them during the spring and summer. Because hummingbirds are not much bigger than some insects, it's easy to understand how they might fall prey to bees. The hummingbird is the smallest bird species in the world. When considering which hummingbird feeder to buy and where to hang it, don't forget to consider how to deter bees from your nectar feeder. Unlike the usual threats that birds face, hummingbirds have one that's unique: bees.
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