Understand Why Bees are Attracted to Oriole Feeders
Bees are naturally attracted to sugary substances like the jelly or nectar used in oriole feeders. The feeders provide an easy meal for the bees, so they will frequently visit them. There are a few reasons bees may be particularly bothersome around oriole jelly feeders:
- Oriole jelly contains high fructose corn syrup, which bees find irresistible.
- The bright colors of many feeders attract bees looking for nectar sources.
- Feeders are typically placed outdoors where bees can easily access them.
- Bees learn and communicate with each other, so once one bee finds the feeder, more are likely to follow.
Understanding why bees are attracted to the feeders will help you know what solutions to try to deter them. The key is finding ways to make the feeder less appealing or accessible to the bees.
Use Feeders with Built-In Bee Guards
Many oriole jelly feeders now come with specialized bee guards or deterrents. These create a physical barrier around the jelly ports that allows orioles to access the food but deters bees.
Some types of guards include:
- Overhangs or hoods – Plastic pieces that jut out over the jelly ports
- Cages – Wire or plastic cages that surround the ports
- Moats – Small water moats around the ports that bees don’t like to cross
When shopping for a new feeder or replacing your existing one, look for options advertising built-in bee deterrents. This is the easiest solution that doesn’t require you to DIY anything. The guards cut down bee access while still giving orioles full access.
Use Feeders with Red Colored Ports
Studies have found bees generally avoid feeders that have red colored feeding ports or guards. The color red doesn’t attract bees like other bright hues do.
Choose an oriole jelly feeder with red accents around the jelly ports. Or, DIY your own red guards for the ports using red plastic, silicone or duct tape. The red color signals danger to the bees so they’ll be less likely to come close.
Offer Alternative Food Sources for Bees
One strategy is to give the bees another food source somewhere away from your oriole feeders. This helps distract them from the oriole jelly.
Some alternative bee foods to try:
- Place shallow dishes of sugar water in sunny spots in your yard. Use a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water.
- Offer a bee nectar feeder with natural sugary liquids.
- Plant bee-friendly flowers in your garden they can forage on instead.
- Leave fallen, rotting fruit for the bees to feed on.
Ideally, set up these bee buffets in areas farther from where you hang your oriole feeders. The more appealing alternatives you provide, the less interest bees will have in the jelly.
Use Feeders with Moats
As mentioned before, some feeders have small moats built around the jelly ports. You can also add a DIY moat if your feeder doesn’t have one.
Try hanging a feeder over a tray of water. Position it so the ports are surrounded by a 1-2 inch water gap. Bees dislike crossing water to reach food.
Or, add a small cup or jar lid filled with water on top of the feeder, surrounding the jelly ports. The moat serves as a deterrent but orioles can easily fly over it.
Refresh the water every few days to keep the moats clean and effective. The moving water can also help deter bees.
Use Herbs and Scents
Strong scents from herbs, spices, and essential oils are useful for repelling bees. Try placing them around or on your oriole feeders.
Some bee-repelling scents to try:
- Mint
- Lavender
- Citrus oils
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Peppermint oil
You can hang small sachets or pouches filled with dried herbs near the feeder ports. Or rub essential oils directly onto the feeder, reapplying every few days. The strong aroma overwhelms the bees’ senses so they stay away. But the mild scent is not bothersome to orioles.
Use a Feeder with Under-Port Perches
Oriole feeders designed with small perches directly under the jelly ports can help deter bees. The oriole lands on the perch and eats the jelly. But the bee has no place to land and access the port.
Shop for a feeder with these under-port perches built in. Or add small homemade perches to your existing feeder using plastic or metal washers glued in place. Position them a few inches below the ports.
Add Wire Guards or Netting
For a DIY option, you can surround your feeder with a wire guard or mesh netting. This blocks the bees’ flight path but orioles can easily fly through the openings.
Use a wire frame, small mesh screening or netting. Cut it larger than your feeder so there is at least 5-6 inches of space between the guard and the jelly ports. Attach the guard around your feeder’s hanging hook.
When the bees try to approach, they’ll bump into the guard and be unable to reach the feeder openings. But orioles are agile fliers and will swoop through the openings and access the jelly.
Use Feeders with Internal Chambers
Some feeders have an enclosed internal chamber that holds the jelly, rather than open ports. Small holes allow oriole beaks access but keep out bees.
Shop for a feeder designed this way, sometimes called a “nectar collector feeder”. Or DIY your own chamber inside any feeder using plastic canvas mesh. Cut it to fit snugly in the reservoir, hot glue it in place, and poke feeding holes.
The enclosed space and small holes prevent bees from entering. But orioles easily sip the jelly through the holes.
Use a Feeder with a Spring-Loaded Drawer
Specialized feeders have a spring-loaded drawer that holds the jelly. The oriole’s weight presses down and opens the drawer, allowing access to the jelly. But the spring keeps the drawer closed when bees try to access it.
This creative design deters bees but lets orioles eat unimpeded. Shop for a feeder made this way. You can also try adapting a regular feeder by adding springs and a sliding jelly tray.
Move the Feeder Location Frequently
Bees will continually return to a feeder they’ve discovered. Discourage them by moving your feeder to new spots every few days.
Pick locations as far from the old spot as possible. Also vary the height, position, and level of sun exposure.
By frequently changing the environment around the feeder, you’ll prevent the bees from habitually returning to the same location. But orioles will still be able to find it.
Use Multiple Feeders
Try setting up two or more smaller jelly feeders in different spots around your yard. Split your jelly between them.
The bees will have more options to choose from. With less jelly available at each individual feeder, they’ll be less motivated to aggressively guard any one feeder.
Meanwhile, the orioles will have more feeders to visit for jelly. Space the feeders far apart to minimize crowding.
Remove the Feeder at Night
Bees are much less active at night when they return to their hive. Orioles sleep at night as well.
You can minimize bee access by removing your oriole feeder after dusk each evening. Then hang it back up at dawn before the bees become active.
This ensures the jelly will only be available during oriole feeding times. The bees are locked out during their prime foraging hours.
Use Feeders with Yellow Colored Ports
In contrast to red, studies show bees are actually attracted to the color yellow. Avoid feeders with yellow accents or jelly port covers. Stick to neutral colors or red guards.
If your feeder has yellow parts, cover them with red tape or paint. You want to minimize yellow hues that appeal to the bees.
Add Traps to Catch Bees
For severe bee problems, traps can help reduce their numbers around the feeder. Different traps you can try:
- Funnel traps – Bees enter through a funnel and can’t find their way out.
- Bottle traps – Similar to funnel but made from plastic bottles.
- Sticky traps – Boards or tape with sticky substance that bees get stuck on.
Place these traps within 5 feet of your feeder. They’ll help decrease the bee population frequenting it without harming orioles. Combine traps with other deterrents for the best control.
Use Thick Jelly Consistency
Bees prefer drinking thin, watery nectar. Thicken your oriole jelly to a more concentrated consistency.
Add less water when preparing homemade jelly. Or boil it down to reduce water content.
You can also try commercial jellies advertised as “no-drip” formulas. Their thicker texture makes it harder for bees to access. But orioles can still sip it easily.
Conclusion
Dealing with bees at oriole feeders can be frustrating. But there are many techniques you can try to deter those buzzing insects. Finding the right solutions comes down to understanding what attracts bees in the first place.
Altering the feeder’s access points, visibility, and tasty allure are key. Physical barriers like guards and moats work well. Unappealing scents and colors chase bees away too.
With persistence and creativity, you can outsmart those bees and maintain an oriole-friendly feeder. A bee-less jelly feeder means more yummy food for your gorgeous orioles while keeping hungry bees away. Just be patient and consistent implementing deterrents until you find what works best. Then you can relax and enjoy the show as orioles flock to your feeder again!
