I adored my First Nature hummingbird feeders--until the bees discovered them and took them over. Tried all the things commonly recommended to get rid of the bees: Avoid feeders with the color yellow, use a more diluted 1:5 sugar/water blend, give bees their own nearby feeder with yellow accents and a sweeter 1:3 nectar, move hummingbird feeders to a new location, hang feeders in the shade, replace nectar daily because bees prefer nectar that's been sitting a few days, etc., etc. Nothing worked. I then bought the "bee-proof" feeder from First Nature and that attracted even more bees than the standard First Nature feeders! They were piled 4 high all around that feeder! Next I purchased a Perky Pet feeder with bee guards which I really thought would do the trick. Nope. At that point I went to a hummingbird forum for help and learned that none of the inverted-style feeders with the center reservoir you turn upside down can be considered bee-proof, especially when it's hot, because the nectar will bubble up right past any bee guards. They recommended using saucer-style feeders instead, especially the HummZinger line from Aspects. I chose the 12 oz HighView feeder because it has decent nectar capacity (without the big center reservoir, HummZinger feeders have limited capacity compared to inverted-style feeders; many hold just 4-8 oz, so 12 oz is actually one of their bigger feeders) and I was intrigued by the elevated perch offering unobstructed views of our hummingbird visitors. Plus, this feeder is compatible with Aspects Nectar Guard Tips that are designed to keep flying insects out of the feeder. I decided to try the feeder without the nectar guards first but appreciate having the option to add them in the future, if needed. The HummZinger HighView feeder couldn't be simpler: It consists of a clear plastic bowl (with a handy nectar scale on one side and a deep ant moat in the middle) and a red cover that pops on and off easily. It's constructed of unbreakable polycarbonate and comes with a lifetime guarantee! You can either mount it on a post/pole (instructions say to mount directly on a 5/8" wooden dowel, or on a 1/2" pole) or screw the included brass hanger rod into the center of the clear bowl and hang the feeder. I chose the latter option for now and hung the feeder from the same shepherd's hook where one of my bee-infested First Nature feeders had been hanging the day before. I was very curious how the bees--and of course the hummingbirds--would respond to the new feeder style. Our hummingbirds are always out and about before the bees and they took to the new feeder immediately. They do seem to prefer the First Nature feeders (during the times when they're not covered in bees) but that could just be because they've been drinking from them longer and are used to them. But they definitely appreciate the HummZinger feeder when the bees are swarming every other feeder in the yard. Then the bees arrived, prepared to enjoy their usual nectar breakfast. But when they found they couldn't access the nectar, they eventually decided to look elsewhere for their sugar fix. How does the HummZinger feeder keep bees from accessing the nectar? Simple. There are no bee guards and the four slightly raised feeding ports look totally standard. What keeps the bees from drinking the nectar is that the distance between the nectar and the feeding port opening is too great for them. Even if you fill the nectar all the way to the 12 oz line on the bowl's nectar scale, the bees won't be able to reach the nectar. The hummingbirds, on the other hand, have long tongues that function like micropumps and can easily reach even to the bottom of the bowl. So if you have only a couple of hummingbirds and don't want to throw away a lot of nectar every few days, you could fill the bowl to just the 4 oz or 6 oz line and your hummingbirds will still be able to access the nectar. Now, of course, while the bees can't access the nectar, nothing can stop them from trying. They'll be especially motivated to try if there are a few drops of nectar around the feeding port openings. When the hummingbirds pull their beaks out of the feeding ports after drinking, a drop or two of nectar may drip out and of course that attracts bees and other insects. There's really nothing to be done about that except for wiping the outside of the feeder clean with a wet cloth or paper towel throughout the day when you have time, though I usually don't bother. When the bees discover they can't actually access the nectar, they give up soon enough, and just a couple of bees won't keep the hummingbirds away. Some people put mineral oil or non-stick cooking spray around feeding ports to prevent nectar drips from sticking but that is NOT recommended, as these substances will get on the hummingbirds and could harm them. While bees can't access the nectar, little flies and other tiny flying insects can fit through the feeding port openings and drown in the nectar (though I've also recovered a few that were still alive). That's an issue with every hummingbird feeder I have and this one is no exception. That's where the nectar guard tips could come in handy. Another advantage this feeder has over the inverted-style feeders is that you can open and close it without having to pour out all the nectar. So if you see that there's an insect swimming in the clear bowl, you could just quickly open the feeder and fish it out. It's also possible to add or remove nectar without having to completely empty and clean the feeder. Oh, and speaking of the clear bowl, when the hummingbirds use their tongues to drink, you can see the ripples in the nectar, which is pretty cool. Aspect recommends that you replace the nectar and clean the feeder every three days to prevent growth of mold and bacteria (when it's really hot, I try to do it every two days), and cleaning this feeder couldn't be easier. There are just two pieces and no hidden crevices to trap mold or intricate flower-shaped feeding ports that must be scrubbed with a toothbrush. Just rinse with hot water. No need to remove the brass hanger rod when cleaning or filling the feeder. And unlike the First Nature feeders, you can even pop this one in the dishwasher.
