Bees at a hummingbird feeder force hummingbirds to compete for their food source, which can discourage them from visiting the feeder entirely. Fortunately, several non-toxic and humane adjustments can be made to the feeding station to divert the attention of foraging bees. The goal is to make the nectar accessible to the long, slender beaks of the birds but unavailable to the smaller mouths of the insects.
Why Bees Target Hummingbird Feeders
Bees are attracted to hummingbird feeders for two reasons: the sugar concentration and the feeder’s visual cues.
Sugar Concentration
The standard nectar recipe (one part sugar to four parts water) creates a 20% sucrose solution. This concentration closely mimics natural flower nectar and is a highly appealing energy source for bees, especially when compared to other available sources.
Visual Cues
Feeder design often signals a food source through color. Bees possess a different visual spectrum than humans, seeing in ultraviolet, blue, and green light, but not red. They are highly attracted to blue, purple, and yellow, which appear brightest in their vision. Many commercial feeders incorporate yellow plastic parts, such as feeding ports, which act as a strong visual beacon advertising the sugar source to foraging bees.
Physical Adjustments to the Feeder
Modifying the feeder’s structure is the most direct way to limit bee access.
Bee Guards
One of the most effective modifications involves installing bee guards, sometimes called nectar guards. These grate-like covers fit over the feeding ports. The raised barrier around the port prevents a bee from reaching the sugar water with its mouthparts, but the spacing is wide enough for a hummingbird to insert its long, specialized tongue.
Color Modification
The yellow color found on many feeders should be removed or covered, as this visual cue is highly attractive to bees. Bees do not perceive red well, seeing it as dark or black, while red remains the preferred color for attracting hummingbirds. Replacing yellow plastic flowers with red ones or painting over the yellow accents makes the feeder less visually appealing.
Preventing Leaks
Preventing drips and leaks is also an important step, as even small amounts of spilled sugar water attract bees. A leaky feeder provides an easily accessible surface for bees to feed. Ensure the feeder is level and the base is screwed on tightly to create a proper seal. If a feeder begins to leak, the dripping nectar will draw a swarm of bees.
Strategic Placement and Diversion
Changing the feeder’s location is an effective strategy because bees rely on memorizing the geographical location of a food source. Moving the feeder even a short distance, such as 4 to 15 feet away, can confuse the bees, causing them to lose track of the sugar water. Hummingbirds, with their superior vision and ability to track food sources, will quickly locate the feeder in its new spot.
Placing the feeder in a shaded area can discourage bees while providing an additional benefit for the hummingbirds. Bees typically prefer to forage in full sunlight, making shaded locations less attractive to them. A shaded spot also keeps the nectar cooler, slowing the rate of fermentation, which can otherwise make the sugar solution spoil faster and potentially harm the birds.
A diversionary feeder can be used to lure bees away from the main hummingbird station. By setting up a separate, shallow dish of sugar water with a slightly higher sugar concentration than the hummingbird nectar, placed a distance away, bees will often choose the easier, sweeter source. This diversion offers the bees an alternate, dedicated food source, reducing their pressure on the hummingbird feeder without causing them harm.