A
>>>
>>>   Now, to the request for help.  We have three bird feeders (seed) around
>>> our house and have recently had some kind of bees or wasps swarming around
>>> the feeders when it's warm out and cleaning out the feeders.  Usually,
>>> the bird feeders will have seed in them for most of a week, but these bees
>>> have cleaned out a full feeder in one day's time.  I haven't been home
>>> when the bees have been active, so I don't know what kind they are.
>>> Anybody know what kind of bee/wasp will raid bird feeders?  I don't know
>>> if they bees are eating the seed or not.  I suppose they could be using
>>> the seed to build their nest.  Also, what can I do to keep the bees away?
>>> The birds stay away as long as there are a number of bees around.
>>>
 
>  I was finally able to get home before the bees left for the day and was
>able to identify them -- they're honeybees.  I observed a few of them for
>a few minutes.  A bee would would around in the bird seed looking for
>some seed to take with it.  Once it found the seed, it put it's head down
>and tried to push it back into its middle and/or rear legs.  However, it
>had great difficulty doing so (because the seeds were slippery?) and
>resembled a dog digging a hole.  After it was able to grab the seed, it
>flew off, but I couldn't track it very far into the woods.
>
>Any ideas on how to deter or distract them from the bird food so I can
>feed the birds again?
 
A farmer phoned me last week. I have bees on his land.  While the bees posed
no problem he informed me that the bees were into his bird feeder.  It seams
he had placed some oatmeal in the feeder and this attracted the bees.  It is
not unusual in our area to find bees collecting chop and grain dust or even
sawdust.  This only happens early in the spring before there is any natural
pollen.
 
Eric
Eric Abell
Gibbons, Alberta Canada
(403) 998 3143
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