Bees like foraging, and they will land on anything that has pollen or nectar and contains proteins. Bird food has some pollen, though not as plenty as that found on flower plants. For this reason, it is not a surprise to find bees buzzing around your bird feeders or on bird seeds.
If you are irritated by the bees landing on your birds’ feeding points, then you may want to know some of the reasons why they land there and how to protect your bird seeds from bees.
This article will discuss tips to help you keep bees away from your birds’ feeding points without harming either the bees or your lovely birds.
Tips for keeping bees away from bird seeds
Even if you have hives, sometimes bees can come where you don’t need them. Here are a few tips to keep bees from feeding on the seeds you have prepared and set aside for your birds to feed on. They are simple tricks that will not harm the bees but only prevent them from getting into bird seeds.
1. Use a red saucer feeder.
Bees are attracted to many bright colors but not red. As such, using a red saucer feeder can be an excellent way to keep bees away.
On the other hand, birds are usually comfortable with the red color and will comfortably feed on the seeds placed in any red saucer.
2. Hung the feeders with a fishing line
Most common fish lines are too thin for insects like bees to clinch on. Bees will thus be discouraged from getting to the feeders hanging up on fishing lines, leaving your bird seeds safe. Thankfully, finishing lines are sturdy to withstand the weight of loaded feeders.
Birds will freely fly up to the feeder and get enough food before flying away.
3. Plant colorful flowering plants nearby
Providing an alternative feeding point for bees can help keep them away from your birds’ feeding points. Bees will feed on the pollen and nectar found in plenty of flowers rather than the few seeds in bird feeders.
If you have a beautifully thriving flower garden near your home, bees will shift their attention to the flowers leaving seeds for your birds to feed on.
4. Often move the feeders
Relocating the feeder is the simplest way of keeping bees away from the bird seeds. Birds will look around their normal feeding point to find the feeder, but it may take a little longer for bees to find the new birds’ feeding point.
Should bees locate the new point, consider moving the feeder again. This trend might confuse your birds, but you can address it by guiding them to the feeding point once you notice the confusion.
5. Install bee guards
If your bird feeder is not bee proof, you can make the feeding holes smaller to prevent bees from getting inside. The small holes won’t interfere with the feeding of birds because they have long, thin beaks that can pass through the small holes.
Otherwise, you can buy feeders with bee guards to keep bees away or else buy independent bee guards and attach them to the feeders. They will all work effectively to keep bees away from the bird seeds.
6. Avoid yellow material near the feeders
Bees love bright yellow colors and can easily spot yellow items while foraging. If there is anything yellow near the bird’s feeding point, it will attract bees and, in turn, get to the bird’s seed.
Avoid using yellow feeders or any other yellow items near the feeders.
Conclusion
Having bees feed on your hard-found bird seeds may sometimes be annoying. If you are trying to find ways of keeping bees away from your garden, then you can consider the tips above and have your birds solely enjoy feeding on the seeds you give them.
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