The bees will use the easiest route to food available to them. These will hurt the bees and leave the hummingbirds weighed down and unable to fly. Of course, they are harmful to the bees, but they’re also harmful to the hummingbirds and the insects they rely on for a significant part of their diet.Īlso, avoid using oils, including petroleum, cooking oil, and essential oils, to keep the bees away. A large enough number of bees can take over a feeder, so hummingbirds will avoid that feeder and look elsewhere for food.īees can also make a mess at a feeder, which can cause the nectar to get dirty faster–something you definitely want to avoid when feeding hummers! How To Keep Bees Away Without Harming the Bees?Īvoid using pesticides of any kind. Hummingbirds are not afraid of bees, but bees compete with them for nectar at a feeder. This makes it so that only the hummingbirds can reach the feeding ports and get at the nectar with their long, skinny tongues.īees don’t have any way to reach inside, so eventually, they’ll give up and look elsewhere for the sugary stuff. Typically they’re in the form of a plastic mesh cover that goes over the feeding port. There are many beautifully hand-painted feeders that you can purchase as alternative feeders for your hummingbird. ![]() Having a backyard feeder is crucial for your birds. Do Bee Guards Work?īee guards are an easy way to adapt a hummingbird feeder so bees can’t access the feeding ports. In general, moving the feeders around a short distance, just a few feet, can be enough to confuse the insects without bothering the hummingbirds. Direct sunlight also spoils the nectar faster and can damage the feeders, causing leaks. Move hummingbird feeders out of direct sunlight, where bees prefer to feed. Put it next to the pollinator-friendly flowers you’ve planted to encourage the bees to go to that part of your yard! Most hummingbird enthusiasts use food sources to attract bees. Use a yellow one with feeding ports that are easy for them to access, and set it up in a sunny spot, away from your hummingbird feeders. You can set up a feeder meant just for the bees. Keep your hummingbird feeders clean and check them often for leaks, so bees don’t find an easy way in. Use bee-proof feeders or bee guards to make the feeders less appealing. Aim to have things bloom at different times of the year, so there’s always something to eat. Start with pollinator-friendly plants in your garden. ![]() How Do You Stop Bees From Hanging Around a Hummingbird Feeder? Many flowers that hummingbirds naturally pollinate are red too. Hummingbirds are well known for their love of all things red. Insects are especially attracted to yellow but cannot see red. In particular, avoid yellow-colored flower decorations. It’s also important to choose a red feeder without any yellow. Sometimes they are protected by additional bee guards, which usually look like a mesh or plug. The feeding ports on the saucer feeders are incredibly narrow, which is key so that only hummingbirds can reach inside. But hummingbirds can reach the nectar just fine with their long, specialized tongues. The secret behind these feeders is the same secret that flowers use out in the wild: they keep the nectar down deep, where bees cannot reach. It’s also known as a tray feeder or a dish feeder. The best kind of hummingbird feeder that bees cannot use is a saucer feeder. ![]() Ready to bee-come an expert on hummingbirds and bees? Let’s buzz on in! What Is the Best Hummingbird Feeder To Keep Bees Away? We’ll also discuss what makes a great bee-proof hummingbird feeder and pick out the best ones for you.įinally, we’ll discuss what you can do if you’ve already got feeders that the bees are bothering and share some solutions for modifying your feeders. This guide will cover everything you need to know about what makes bees come to hummingbird feeders and how you can encourage them to go elsewhere! So how can you keep your hummingbirds happy while diverting the bees away from the feeders? Last update on / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising APIīees may not be as enticing to watch as hummingbirds, but they play a vital role in our ecosystem, pollinating plants and ensuring that fruits and flowers can grow.
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