Over the past few days I've noticed finches hanging around the entrance of the hive, and it looks to me like they're lying in wait to catch the bees. I knew that Bluejays liked to catch bees in flight, but didn't know about the finches. Is this common? And if so, do you have any suggestions about how to dissuade them?
There are lots of finches around me, but I've never seen them chasing the bees. I have seen bluebirds and mockingbirds doing fly-bys at the hive entrance in determined patterns so I'm pretty sure they are catching bees. I've read that these two species, and blue jays, will dive for the bees, but the same articles also stated that the birds don't catch enough to negatively affect the population. Also saw a study that showed birds seem to try to select drones. Even if they get workers, they fly to a nearby branch and thrash the bee before eating it, supposedly to dislodge the stinger.
I've never seen the birds hang out for more than 10 or 15 minutes, so if you do the math, a few birds catching a few bees occasionally probably isn't denting a hive even if the hive is only a few thousand bees strong. Someone else likely knows a lot more about this than I do.
Any ornithologists out there?
The other keeper close to me has finches that also hang out around the hives. We sit and watch them but I have never saw them go after the bees. I also see the birds going to the same water source along with the bees. Maybe the birds hang out for protection against their enemies. I dont see dogs or cats getting anywhere close to the hives.
Pm my friend Bailey, he may have some pointers for ya, his bees chase after the purple martins!!!
...JP
Mockin birds get some of my bees but I feel like its just a normal thing. They dont get many though as the one mocking bird controls the territory. He also gets the grasshoppers so thats a good thing!
your friend,
john
I've noticed the blue birds hanging around my hives this year, and I've even seen a summer tanager for the first time in my yard. Didn't know what it was and looked it up in a bird book and it said a major part of their diet is flying insects captured in the air. You can watch the carolina wrens standing on the ground below the entrance jumping up and catching bees as they fly in or out. I guess it's just part of that food chain thing.
The wrens keep watch for bees at my hives - they mostly eat the dead that are cast out.
Linda T in Atlanta
I've seen cardinals sitting just off to the side of the entrance chowing down on the bees. I doubt birds eat enough to make much of a difference. As soon as my colonies really started building up their numbers they must have taught the cardinals a lesson; because I don't see them anywhere near the hive anymore. I also see the occasional finch pounce a bee on the dutch clover, but again I can't see the birds eating enough to make any significant difference in hive population.
Mocking birds, Blue Jays, Robins, Cardinals, and more hang out on the neighbors privacy fence in front of the hives. I'll see them dodge every now and again as bees zoom by them with goodies for the hive. They do keep the walk in front of the hives clean. The bees are not affected.