Spring and summer hummingbird feeding can be a great source of entertainment for people. While some places will only see the hummingbirds for a few months a year, those of us lucky enough to live on the West Coast will have the Anna's hummingbirds visiting year round. Our other local hummingbird species, the Rufous, are only here for a few months in spring and summer. Choosing a hummingbird feeder that works well for you, your yard, and your birds is important to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.
Often the biggest issue people have with their hummingbird feeders is ants and wasps. Insects will find the smallest leak in your feeder, often one you are unable to spot yourself, and quickly become regular visitors enjoying the sugar-water. Erasing the food source, or their ability to get to it, can deter these pests and make feeding the hummingbirds feel like less of a nuisance.
Perky Pet Classic 4 Flower
Feeders that you fill upside down and flip upright to use are known as bottle style feeders and are the most prone to insect problems and leaking. While they can be a great way to start hummingbird feeding, the design makes it easy for them to develop a leak. Two main factors influence the bottle style's leaking issues: gravity and pressure build up. If this feeder is left somewhere it can easily swing in the wind, the chances are higher that you will have nectar leaking out the feeding ports as it swings. They are also prone to developing a pressure build up in the bottle as the liquid is drained. The empty space at the bottle, mixed with the heat of the sun, creates pressure that pushes down on the remaining liquid and forces it out the feeding ports as a drip.
Clear Ant Moat
If your problem is strictly ants finding your feeders you can use an ant moat. Ant moats hang above your feeder and can be filled with water, making a barrier ants cannot get past when climbing onto your feeder. Ant moats will need to be emptied regularly, especially if you have a serious ant problem, and in warm weather the water may evaporate. Add a little bit of vegetable oil to slow down the evaporation if necessary. Regularly wiping on and around the feeding ports to clean off any drips of nectar can help with keeping wasps at bay, though it isn't foolproof. You can also try moving the feeder. Feeders hung in trees had a higher volume of ants finding it as they are likely already searching for food in the trees. Hanging your feeder from a standalone pole instead of a branch can make it more difficult for ants to find it. If ants have found your feeder and it isn't hanging in a tree, sometimes moving it a couple of feet to one side can help them lose the trail.
Changing to a different style of feeder is often the best solution for dealing with leaking and insects issues. A couple of things to think about when choosing a new feeder include how easy it is to take apart and clean, how easy it is to fill, and whether or not it's prone to leaking.
Best-1 8oz. Feeder
If you enjoy using bottle style feeders but are having issues with your current one, the Best-1 feeders are an excellent choice. It's a bottle style feeder that feeds into a small nectar reservoir in the base, with the feeding ports facing straight up. These feeders, despite being bottle style, rarely develop leaking problems. The bottle can unscrew from the base, which also comes apart in two pieces to make it easy to clean. Any bottle style feeder with feeding ports facing straight up instead of on an angle are less likely to have leaking issues due to pressure buildup.
If you want to switch to an entirely new feeder, saucer style is the way to go. The nectar reservoir is in the base, and the feeding ports are directly above. This does not allow for pressure to build up. It is also bottom heavy in comparison to bottle style feeders because of the nectar location and isn't as often found swinging in the wind. The base and top are pressure fit together, making it simple to take apart and clean everywhere. Saucer style feeders like the Aspects Hummzinger don't leak (as long as they aren't tipped when being put up, and aren't overfilled) making them the best choice for avoiding ant and wasp issues.
Aspects 8oz. Jewel Box Feeder
Another option when switching feeders is to go to a window hummingbird feeder. Window feeders allow you the best view of any visiting hummingbirds and rarely do we get reports of ants on window glass, making it less likely they will find it. Wasps, however, may still be an issue depending on the style of window feeder.
Enjoy your hummingbirds!
