You don’t really need the yellow guide flowers. The hummers can find the ports just fine without them. In fact, yellow attracts bees and wasps.
Re: Hummingbird Feeders & Wasps
That is the brand/style I’ve used for years, too. You’ll still get a few wasps and bees hovering and making a go of the nectar, but they’re great overall. The only hassle I have is with the squirrels who love to remove the yellow plastic guide flowers to get at the nectar. Those squirrels!! But I always find the flowers on the ground right under the feeders and they easily snap back on. Plus, the feeders are extremely easy to clean and fill and they do come with an interior well that you can fill with water to keep ants out.
Good luck.
Kerry
Boise
Re: Hummingbird Feeders & Wasps
Believe me, Bill’s method came to mind more than once this past 10 days. But, abandoned the idea & felt it better to just vacate feeding altogether. However, headed to town soon, as I’ve not tried the particular feeder recommended by rbird. And know I’ve seen that type at local hardware store. Will give a try.
Thanks for the recommendations!
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Re: Hummingbird Feeders & Wasps
What I’ve done in the past, which is certainly not eco-friendly or ornithologically pure, is spray feeder, emphasizing break meter glass and feeder ports, with my Raid Wasp spray. The birds keep feeding and the wasps leave them alone for hours. Don’t hate me Jay and Heidi.
I’m down to one feeder, but still active just not mobbed.
Bill Moore
Hoot Owl
Inkom
Re: Hummingbird Feeders & Wasps
I’ve had trouble in years past, but not since I purchased this feeder: https://www.amazon.com/Aspects-HummZinger-HighView-Hanging-Hummingbird/dp/B003XL7WZO/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_2/141-3716543-4926243?pd_rd_w=7AiD6&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=54Y3GFYKWEAGRE7H3575&pd_rd_wg=HX0vo&pd_rd_r=baad1505-713a-40c6-8a3b-6eac1f0cbb9f&pd_rd_i=B003XL7WZO&th=1
We have a yellow jacket nest on one side of our house and they occasionally come to the feeder and “sniff” and then fly away. So nice to enjoy the hummers without watching a fight with a yellow jacket. Maybe this type of feeder will help.
On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 09:31:21 AM MDT, lcarrigan_55 <carriganbw@…> wrote:
Reluctantly, I pulled my hummingbird feeder the other day. Have enjoyed the daily visits by BC & Calliope juveniles, but the wasp, yellow jacket & bald-faced hornet visits became too much. The wasps had not been a problem until about 10 days ago &, then, simply became too extreme. Literally a swarm in the hundreds of primarily paper wasps.
I have bee guards on my ports—no help. Tried a couple of different feeder types—no help. Put up a wasp pheromone trap—just seemed to attract even more. Tried a vinegar solution spray on hangar & feeder—no help.
So, I simply gave in, called it quits & pulled the feeder. If anyone has any other suggestions to keep wasps away, would be be appreciated.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot/ & Thanks-
Hummingbird Feeders & Wasps
Reluctantly, I pulled my hummingbird feeder the other day. Have enjoyed the daily visits by BC & Calliope juveniles, but the wasp, yellow jacket & bald-faced hornet visits became too much. The wasps had not been a problem until about 10 days ago &, then, simply became too extreme. Literally a swarm in the hundreds of primarily paper wasps.
I have bee guards on my ports—no help. Tried a couple of different feeder types—no help. Put up a wasp pheromone trap—just seemed to attract even more. Tried a vinegar solution spray on hangar & feeder—no help.
So, I simply gave in, called it quits & pulled the feeder. If anyone has any other suggestions to keep wasps away, would be be appreciated.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot/ & Thanks-
Birds
8:a.m.lower dam lake lowell 1spot sandpiper 2 sanderling & our tern on buoy
Black-bellied Plover in Canyon County
There’s a Black-bellied Plover on Big Foot between Pump and Rim, south of Dry Lakes area.
Denise Hughes
Re: Blacks Creek Yesterday
Thanks Bob! Might head out there again today.
regards,
John
On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 12:09:30 PM MDT, bob perata via groups.io <bobperata@…> wrote:
Hi John,
I saw that exact same ‘bird’ about 11:30 or so in the same place. Was too many people around at the spot where the NOWA was and this ‘round’ bugger under the dark bushes/tree limbs. Than lost it.
Bob Perata