Goshdarn cat birds are feasting on my bees!

[tjc1]

This is my third year beekeeping, and I have not noticed this before - I really like cat birds, but have been watching them gobble bees for the past two weeks. I think it is two nesting pairs, but maybe only one. They will do it while I stand there and watch. At first it seemed they might be picking dead or nearly dead bees off of the ground, but today I watched two new behaviors: fluttering in front of the landing and picking one out of the air, or hopping under the hive and picking bees off of the screened bottom! At first I kind of shrugged, but today I just watched them take a bee, leave, and come back about every 40 seconds! That will start to add up! Anyone had this problem? Anyone have a solution? Only thing I could think to do would be to drape the hives in bird netting as for protecting berry bushes.

[RHBee]

Get a daisy bb gun and make the problem go away. You might get away with hanging aluminum pie tin around so that they move in the breeze and startle the birds.

[GSF]

According to a book on how to ID birds, cat birds may have 1 to 2 broods a year and 2-6 eggs each brood. It's probably several different ones. They see it as a feeder now.

[JackM]

Try an owl or eagle bird statue and move it daily

[danno]

They like grape jelly more then bee's.   

[tjc1]

According to a book on how to ID birds, cat birds may have 1 to 2 broods a year and 2-6 eggs each brood. It's probably several different ones. They see it as a feeder now.

That's absolutely what it looks like - they kind of look at me standing there as if saying, "Hey! Try some - they're really good - we don't mind sharing!"

[rober]

a neighbor has one of those owls with the head( solar batteries ) that moves to keep the birds from crapping on his truck. seems to work. I've heard mixed reviews on how effective the plain owls are.

[flyboy]

LOL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eNtF7TxQxY

[danno]

The minute anyone states they have any kind of birds eating there bee's someone always comes up with "get a gun".    My response to this is as always.  Its Illegal.   These birds have federal protection.    My wife feeds the orioles from early spring to fall.   About a quart of grape jelly a week.   The cat birds being mainly fruit and berry eating birds also visit the feeders daily.  I keep between 10 and 20 colonies at my place every year.  All with in sight of these feeders and the cat birds completely ignore them.  Give them something they like better then bugs (fruit) and they will take it.  Hell you might even get a few of the prettier song bird coming in

[10framer]

danno, are you sure about federal protection?  i've never heard that before.

[rober]

that's why I mentioned the mechanical owls. I personally do not shoot songbirds or raptures. I've taught my grandsons to do the same.I do however define ALL English sparrows, starlings. & gray squirrels as targets. all snakes are protected in Missouri but thousands are killed every year. raptures are federally protected but lots of them are also killed every year.

[tjc1]

Thanks for the jelly suggestion. How do you put it out to feed? I really like catbirds - they have so much personality - so I wouldn't want to harm them. I was thinking that it's just nature at work (which it is) I just got alarmed when I realized how many they were eating!

[10framer]

i knew birds of prey and vultures were protected.  yeah, my neighbor's kid has chickens and told me that he shoots chicken hawks.  i'm not too big on killing non game animals but i know it happens a lot.

[RHBee]

Sorry if my suggestion offended some but I feel that I have a right to protect what's mine. I don't advocate killing things for sport but when I have a nuisance animal causing problems I generally choose the more direct approach.

[10framer]

ray, the first thought that entered my mind was "get a gun." when i read the original post.  i'm a very active hunter but i'm also big on following any laws where shooting animals is concerned. if i weren't there would be a lot less stray dogs and cats around here.

[RHBee]

Rob, I don't see hunting as sport killing. To me it's a good way to put meat on the table. Shooting animals for sport is simply killing for the fun of it. Could just be the way I was raised. I never knew that it could be against the law to shoot a cat bird.

[GSF]

<I never knew that it could be against the law to shoot a cat bird.>

...or a snake.

[danno]

Starling,  English house Sparrows and Pigeons are the only birds that can be controlled at  anytime without a lic.   The rest are considered Migratory and are protected. 

[10framer]

ray, i have to admit that i've been prairie dog hunting a few times and shot dove in argentina once.  those are agricultural pests, though.  in both cases it's wholesale slaughter.  i've passed up several free argentina hunts since then.  i'm glad i did it once and i may do t again but no time soon.  i'd drop what i'm doing now and go to south dakota to shoot prairie dogs, though.  so, i have to admit to a certain amount of sport hunting. 

[danno]

without googleing does any one which states it is legal to shoot the state bird?   I have lived and hunted  in 2 of them