Keeping ants out of your Hummingbird feeder.

KEEP ANTS OUT OF HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS

An “ant moat” is fiendishly simple and 100% effective.  You may be able to make one yourself, or good birding supply stores carry them. It focuses on the principle that north Texas ants don’t cross water.

It’s just a special cup, with a center-post. Hang it above the feeder, and fill the cup with water. Since ants don’t cross water, none will find their way to the nectar. (I fill mine with ice cubes, which quickly become water. Prevents spillage!)

 

Let them eat bugs!

All but one species of wild bird (even those that eat seed, like Cardinals and Chickadees) feed their newborns insects, exclusively. Insects are easier for nestlings to digest. The young birds learn to find and eat seed as they leave the nest and mature.  Possibly at your nearby birdfeeder. The sole exception is Finches; for some unknown reason their nestlings eat seeds. If you use pestiocidesd liberally, birds are likely top go el;sewheree.

 

 

 

OWEN YOST, in addition to being a blogger, is a licensed Landscape Architect emeritus who has lived and worked in north Texas for over 30 years. He is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International Federation of Landscape Architects, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. His office is at Yost87@charter.net

 

OWEN YOST, in addition to being a blogger, is a licensed Landscape Architect emeritus who has lived and worked in north Texas for over 30 years. He is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International Federation of Landscape Architects, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. His office is at Yost87@charter.net in Denton.