Birds

JP · January 25, 2009, 11:32:15 AM

Would these same birds eat seeds? What about putting seeds out nearbye to lure them and feed them so they're not inclined to eat as many bees?

...JP

beemaster · January 25, 2009, 12:52:04 PM

It must be a different post I posted too - but HERE I have Sandpiper Birds who follow the dying older workers walking away from the hive for the last time. The sandpipers only eat the older workers leaving the younger females alone. They leave the young healthy bees alone - only eating the dying ones - a great asset for the beekeeper.

poka-bee · January 25, 2009, 07:41:47 PM

Most birds eat bugs during nesting, the chicks need the protein to grow fast & leave the nest. Some birds like swallows & swifts (I think) only eat bugs. If you have a decoy type thing you have to move it every day or so & have a couple of different looking ones. Best thing is to have a dog that loves to chase birds! Cats are good too but are not easily visable as they are sneaky...J

Bochekokik · January 25, 2009, 10:52:01 PM

Quote from: Irwin on January 25, 2009, 09:16:47 AM
What about a air gun they are quiet that's what I use

Hello Sir, for our situation, its dangerous using a gun of any kind in our place since there is a populated area near the place. If somebody get shot from whatever gun, chances are the blame would be on me.
The nearby foraging areas are free of birds since there are several decoys placed around it, plus my labrador is helping me chase away those birds. The big problem is the far foraging areas. I cant go to that place since I have to passby several private properties.
We also tried using seeds but the birds seems to prefer the bees.

mudlake · January 28, 2009, 06:26:33 PM

I live on lake Ontairo so we have "birds" or as some like to call them flying Rats, sea gulls. If you can streach fishing string the clear kind, across the yard above head height . The birds run into these a few times and it scares them off. They won't leave the area but they won't like going below the string. You might have to run a few so they get the idea. Good Luck Tony

DayValleyDahlias · January 28, 2009, 06:33:55 PM

There are more bees than the birds can eat...Please don't shoot the birds. It is kinda like people who place their prized goats in an area where mountain lions lives out here, then get upset when the lion kills a goat, and goes out and kills the dang lion...that increases the deer population for us...There will be a balance.

I was worried last year when blue jays were sitting outside my one hive, enjoying bees...they didn't even make a dent in the population. The birds are beneficial. they will eat harmful bugs as well...

Try a scarecrow before killing the birdies...

Thank you and amen...

Sharon

poka-bee · January 28, 2009, 06:55:49 PM

Tony, that is a great idea & works for a variety of birds. They do that at the salmon hatcheries around here & I know people that have done it in their yard for their koi ponds. Once Blue Heron find your pond your fish are toast. We have Osprey here also. Luckily I built my pond with that in mind, the shallows are very limited & the pond goes straight down to around 34". We have Stellar Jays & I have never seen them bother the bees. J

Bochekokik · January 28, 2009, 09:55:19 PM

Quote from: DayValleyDahlias on January 28, 2009, 06:33:55 PM
There are more bees than the birds can eat...Please don't shoot the birds. It is kinda like people who place their prized goats in an area where mountain lions lives out here, then get upset when the lion kills a goat, and goes out and kills the dang lion...that increases the deer population for us...There will be a balance.

I was worried last year when blue jays were sitting outside my one hive, enjoying bees...they didn't even make a dent in the population. The birds are beneficial. they will eat harmful bugs as well...

Try a scarecrow before killing the birdies...

Thank you and amen...

Sharon

I totally agree with you Mam Sharon. That is why I want to use environmentally friendly ways to protect our hives and at the same time just scare (not kill) the birds.
One of the method we are doing is making sure that the colony is strong so even if the birds would feast on the bees, the hive is still strong. Placed several scarecrows/decoys as well. Hope this works, since its difficult to intervene with the balance of nature.
Thanks for the info.

Ted n Ms · April 12, 2009, 12:54:08 AM

My bees were realy brooding up until a colony of purple martins moved in. My bees went to rock bottom.I would not what martins know where near a queen mating yard. Got to do something about them.

charlotte · May 28, 2009, 04:20:45 PM

We have barn cats... I have actually seen the cats hanging out right between the hives waiting for a meal. The bees don't seem to care that the cats are there. That way I don't have to worry about the birds. The cats do it for me. Balance... Nature... Fat cats.... Environmentally friendly too....

p.s. I actually love seeing wild birds. In fact I feed them year round by the house. Figure the population increase of birds, due to feeding, evens out when my barn cats catch a few for lunch out by the hives :-D

BoBn · May 29, 2009, 09:49:36 AM

I have a pair of Phoebes that nest in the rafters of my wood shed 5 feet above some of my hives. They sometimes catch flying bees, but I figure that they "earn their keep" in helping to control blackflies.