Hummingbirds are delightful little birds that bring joy to backyard birdwatchers. However, hummingbird feeders often attract unwanted guests – bees! Bees can swarm hummingbird feeders and scare away the hummingbirds. Many hummingbird enthusiasts want to know how to keep bees away so the hummingbirds have full access to the nectar. There are several tips and tricks for deterring bees from hummingbird feeders. The key is using feeders designed specifically to accommodate hummingbirds while restricting bees. This article will discuss multiple hummingbird feeder options to keep bees away, so you can fully enjoy watching the hummingbirds!
Why Bees Are Attracted to Hummingbird Feeders
Hummingbird nectar is essentially sugar water. Flower nectar in the wild contains sugars that appeal to pollinators like bees. When you fill a hummingbird feeder with store-bought nectar or make your own sugar water mixture, the bees come looking for a sweet treat!
Bees are also attracted to the bright colors of many hummingbird feeders. Hummingbirds have excellent color vision and are drawn to the vibrant red, yellow, and orange hues on feeders. Bees see these colors as inviting landing pads too.
Finally, some types of hummingbird feeders are easily accessible for bees. If the feeding ports are wide open or large enough for a bee to fit through, they will investigate the nectar source.
Understanding what attracts bees to hummingbird feeders allows us to find solutions to deter them. The goal is making the feeders appealing only to hummingbirds.
Tips to Deter Bees from Hummingbird Feeders
Here are some tips to prevent bees from invading your hummingbird feeders:
Use feeders with bee guards over the ports
Specialized hummingbird feeders have built-in bee guards. These are little mesh coverings or screens that block the bees from accessing the nectar through the feeding ports. The openings are sized perfectly for hummingbird beaks but exclude bee mouths. This physical barrier keeps the bees out while allowing the hummingbirds to reach the nectar.
Choose feeders with red coloring
Research shows that hummingbirds are especially attracted to red. Opt for vivid red hummingbird feeders. Bees do not see red as well, so the bold color will stand out more to hummingbirds than bees.
Avoid yellow feeders
While yellow does appeal to hummingbirds, it attracts bees even more. Stay away from yellow-colored feeders to discourage bee visits.
Use feeding ports less than 1⁄4 inch wide
The slender beaks of hummingbirds can easily slip into ports smaller than 1⁄4 inch. However, bee mouths cannot fit in openings this narrow. Select feeders with tiny feeding holes specifically made for hummingbirds.
Clean the feeders thoroughly every week
Bees are drawn to sugar residues and traces of nectar left behind. Scrub feeders weekly with hot water and vinegar to eliminate any sweet remnants. Rinse thoroughly before refilling.
Position feeders at least 15 feet from bee habitats
Locate hummingbird feeders in open spaces away from bee nesting areas like trees, bushes, and branches. Bees typically will not travel farther than 15 feet from their hive.
Use a moat or bee trap
There are clever feeders with water moats that surround the nectar reservoir. Bees drown when they try to cross the water barrier. Another option is adding a plastic bee trap with slots too small for hummingbirds above the feeding ports to divert bees away.
Supplement feeders with natural flowers
Planting native flowers will give the bees an alternate nectar source besides the hummingbird feeders. Good choices are bee balm, cardinal flower, columbine, trumpet honeysuckle, and fire pink.
Types of Hummingbird Feeders That Deter Bees
Let’s examine some specific hummingbird feeder models that are designed to prevent bee access.
Perky-Pet 210B2R Antique Bottle Hummingbird Feeder
This beautifully crafted antique-styled glass feeder holds 32 ounces of nectar. It has six feeding ports outfitted with Sienna red metal base bee guards. The round glass reservoir allows you to easily monitor the nectar level. The diameter of the feeding ports is optimized for hummingbirds. Reviewers report minimal bee activity with this feeder.
Aspects Cedar HummZinger HighView Hummingbird Feeder
With a generous 12 feeding ports and 32-ounce nectar capacity, this Aspects feeder is made of durable cedar wood. The slots have built-in mesh covers to prevent bees from infiltrating. The HighView design allows you to see when the nectar needs refilling. This is an excellent choice for deer-proofing since the cedar deters deer.
First Nature 3055 32-ounce Hummingbird Flower Feeder
This flower-shaped feeder holds a full 32 ounces of nectar and has 10 feeding stations. The yellow flower color and red bee guards target hummingbirds while discouraging bees. The two-part base is easy to clean and fill. Reviewers love watching many hummingbirds comfortably feed on this flower feeder without bees bothering them.
Perky Pet PP00120 Antigua 8 Port Hummingbird Feeder
Perky Pet is renowned for their specialized bird feeders. This 8-port Antigua feeder features built-in bee guards and a unique circular sealing ring that keeps nectar fresh longer. The nectar basin holds 2 cups of nectar. It also contains built-in perches and a draining feature for easy cleaning.
Aspects 397 Hummzinger Ultra Hummingbird Feeder
With a mammoth nectar capacity of 40 ounces, this Aspects feeder can accommodate a flock of hummingbirds! It has 12 feeding stations equipped with twist-on bee guards and a weather-resistant powder-coated red metal cover. The wide mouth makes filling and cleaning easy. This heavy-duty feeder is backed by a lifetime warranty.
Kettle Moraine Swedish Style Harmony Hummingbird Feeder
Modeled after antique Swedish beekeepers’ feeders, this unique feeder holds up to 20 ounces of nectar across 8 feeding ports. The hand-blown glass reservoir is removable for cleaning and filling. An inner moat creates a water barrier that deters crawling insects and bees. Watching hummingbirds feed on this work of art will bring joy to your day!
Homemade Bee Guards for Hummingbird Feeders
You can also make DIY bee guards for your existing hummingbird feeder ports. Here are some easy homemade options:
Plastic Straw Bee Guards
Cut plastic drinking straws into 1-inch lengths. Make slits down the sides so they can spread open. Insert the straw pieces over your feeder tips like sleeves to block bees.
Wire Mesh Bee Guards
Use pliers to snip off small pieces of aluminium window screen or hardware cloth. Wrap the mesh around the feeder tips and secure with hot glue. The mesh should have holes smaller than bee mouths but large enough for hummingbird beaks.
CD Bee Guards
Cut the center from old CDs leaving a ring. Slice the rings vertically into pieces. Place the arc of plastic around each feeding port to exclude bees.
Bottle Cap Bee Guards
Poke a small hummingbird-sized hole in plastic bottle caps from soda, water, milk, etc. Secure the altered cap around your feeder tips with hot glue. The hole allows hummingbird access but keeps out bees.
Conclusion
By choosing hummingbird feeders with built-in bee guards or modifying your existing feeders with DIY options, you can enjoy watching hummingbirds without bee interference. Look for slender feeding ports, red colors, and physical barriers that block bees but not hummingbirds. Proper placement away from bee habitats and regular cleaning also helps keep bees at bay. A little creativity allows you to reap the rewards of hummingbird feeding without the frustration of bees. With the right feeder, you can relax and delight in the beauty of hummingbirds.
