Do you notice the bees or hummingbirds eating your hummer feeder? If so, you should do something about it immediately! There are several ways you can prevent them from eating your hummingbird food. Using sugar solution or peppermint essential oil can help. Avoid using insecticides on your hummingbird feeder. Read on to learn how. Or, try the following methods:
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Sugar solution
Hummingbirds prefer sugary, high-calorie solutions. One part table sugar and four parts water is sufficient for a 60-calorie solution. Higher concentrations of sugar are unhealthy for hummingbirds, since they are susceptible to fungal infections on their tongues. Higher sugar concentrations also promote fungus and bacteria growth in feeders, so removing them is essential. Using a syrup that is one part sugar to four parts water is more effective, but you must be careful to not overdo it. Hummingbirds can’t digest sugars that are too sweet.
Another problem with bottle feeders is that they leak nectar when the sun shines on them. The air trapped at the top of the bottle expands as it warms. If you’re planning to install a feeder in your backyard, consider purchasing a tray feeder instead. These are not only safer but also more practical. A tray feeder is ideal for attracting birds as it does not leak. The downside of this type of feeder is that the large perch attracts other species. In some areas, bears are a common problem with feeders.
Peppermint essential oil
If you have a hummingbird feeder and find that the bees are constantly buzzing around, you may want to consider adding Peppermint essential oil to it. Not only will it help them to relax, but it will also keep them away from your garden. Unlike wasps and hornets, bees are not aggressive and will not sting unless they feel threatened or attacked. Bees can sting humans, but they are not aggressive.
Hummingbirds prefer to feed from natural sources like flowers and other plants. Feeders containing sugary liquid will attract bees. However, they are squeamish and scared easily, so you want to keep the noise at a minimum. Also, peppermint oil will keep bees away from the food for several hours. After applying Peppermint oil, you can place the hummingbird feeder in a protected area and wait for the bees to leave.
Keeping hummingbirds away from hummingbird feeders
Bees are not the only insects that like to visit hummingbird feeders. While honeybees are harmless, wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are highly aggressive. These insects can sting and may also damage hummingbird feeders. To keep them away from hummingbird feeders, avoid putting any food or water in the feeder.
To avoid unwanted visitors crawling into hummingbird feeders, make sure the sugar water is free of debris. Hummingbirds love sugar water, but bees also like the sweet nectar. A little knowledge about how these two species interact can make your hummingbird and bee-friendly feeder a better environment. You can also choose bee proof feeders, which have smaller feeding holes. Some of these feeders are even designed with bee guards built into the feeder.
Another way to keep hummingbirds away from hummer feeders is to install a bee guard. These are available on Amazon and can range from $6 to 18 dollars. Alternatively, you can make your own bee guards by cutting strips of fine plastic mesh and using it as a protective barrier between the nectar and the bees. You can then place the bee guard over the feeding tubes, making sure that the hole in the bee guard is large enough to fit a hummingbird’s beak. Lastly, you can re-locate the feeder so that the birds are confused.
Avoiding insecticides
It’s best to avoid using pesticides near hummingbird feeders because they can harm hummingbirds. However, you can use other products to discourage bees from visiting your feeder, such as menthol cough rub or petroleum jelly. Keep in mind that most insecticides contain harmful toxins, and even a small amount can be dangerous to small birds. Avoid using any commercial insect traps as well.
The best time to use moderately-toxic pesticides is late evening, since they have short-term residuals. Bees forage during the day, so they’ll probably come into contact with the insecticide on the blossoms. Honey bees are usually inactive from sunset until sunrise, and re-wetting of residues on leaves or in the rain can increase the risk of harm to bees.
