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too many yellow jackets at hummingbird feeders
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Posted by sdk822 z6 PA (My Page) on Thu, Jul 27, 06 at 9:45
| How can I deter all the yellow jackets? My hummingbirds don't want to eat when all of the bees are there. I make my own sugar/water solution. Is there an alternative that won't attract the bees? Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: too many yellow jackets at hummingbird feeders
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| I fear not, when you have a yellow jacket nest in fairly close proximity. They would probably come to the feeder even if you just had water in it. I've not found a model with bee guards that are truly effective at keeping them away. Perhaps someone else has a great solution. Don't forget that YJs get more aggressive towards the end of summer. |
RE: too many yellow jackets at hummingbird feeders
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I've been told that mint extract rubbed around the feeding ports will deter yellow jackets.
It's toxic to wasps, but won't harm the birds. |
RE: too many yellow jackets at hummingbird feeders
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I read that bees are attracted to yellow, so if you have yellow "flowers" around the holes, try painting them red.
Not sure if that applies to yellow jackets... |
RE: too many yellow jackets at hummingbird feeders
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- Posted by elke 6b (My Page) on
Wed, Aug 30, 06 at 14:59
| bee guards are essential -- without them i tend to have a swarm of wasps (and not only yellow jackets). they prevent wasps from reaching the reservoir of nectar as their proboscus (sp?) isn't long enough. my feeders hang just outside the screens of my porch. i have an arsenal of waterpistols, and shoot at the wasps right through the screen. if you're going to annoy me, i'm going to annoy you. they often find it so irritating that they leave. |
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