Home -

Birds do it – bees do it - and (apparently) even educated fleas do it, but how do birds and bees do it in harmony, co-habiting in the same area? Why does the one not decimate the other, particularly when the one is far bigger and can fly faster and further, leaving the smaller with very little defense? Very few birds eat bees on a regular basis, and those that do, we find in Europe, Africa, and Asia. North America has several species that opportunistically include bees in their diet, but providing birdfeeders and birdhouses can limit losses. Camouflaging the hives also helps limit avian predation. Most folk would agree that the honeybee is a vital link in the food chain and that without them, countless crops would be devastated and remain unpollinated in the fields. Ignoring GMO and mechanical pollinators for the moment, you would be hard-pressed to find a sane person who decried the value of a honeybee, but what are we as individuals doing to save them? 3 Tips And Tricks To Protect Bees From Birds Although birds are not a major threat to your bees, there are a few precautions you can take to limit the threat even further: Birdfeeders To Protect Bees Bearing in mind that since birds only eat bees opportunistically (in the US and Canada at least), it makes perfect sense to step in and provide a feeder for the birds, concentrating on the species that might prey on bees. (Noted above) Note that not all birds eat the same things: A Northern Cardinal, for example, will include insects (beetles, true bugs, caterpillars, flies, grasshoppers, ants) in their diet and, on occasion, add centipedes, spiders, and snails. However, most of their diet consists of vegetable matter and includes seeds of weeds and grasses. Unless you have the patience to hunt for the menu items noted above, you might want to try suet, bacon fat, and several types of seeds instead, which you render into balls for the birdfeeder. I suggest you contact your local bird club for other suggestions. The bottom line is: If the bird has sufficient food, it has no reason to snack on your bee colony. Birdhouses For Bees Not just the pretty, Look-what-I-brought-from-Switzerland type, but also the kind of dwelling the bird uses in the wild. Sisal logs work well for Woodpeckers, who will hollow the log out to their own specifications. Hang the log in a tree within 20 or 30 yards of the birdfeeder/s, and you’re good to go. Camouflage To Protect Bees Place the beehives in an area surrounded by bush, trees, a wall, or a mound and not out in the open if you are concerned with birds raiding your hives. Try to use nature to foil nature somewhat, but be aware that birds are the least of your worries as a beekeeper. Do Bees Need Protecting From Birds? As a bird lover, this question was very pertinent to me. In nature, birds and bees (like educated fleas!) live daily, almost from hand to mouth, as it were, in an endless struggle to survive. Nature tends to separate creatures in the wild into two groups; predator and prey, and if you’re not the one, the chances are that you’re the other. Very few birds include bees in their daily diet, with most being opportunistic bee-eaters that partake of the avian delicacy when they happen upon a swarm resting, etc. Several birds that occasionally eat bees include thrushes, mockingbirds, cardinals, swifts, kingbirds, and woodpeckers. Woodpeckers are partial to the larvae of leafcutter and carpenter bees. Birds That Target Bees Fortunately for beekeepers in the US and Canada, very few birds rate bees high on their checklist of takeaways. Not so for those of you in Africa, Europe, and Asia, where things are very different: The European Honey Buzzard – The name says it all, and with the bird being relatively large, 22” (55cm) tall with a wingspan of 45 – 54” (120cm), it can decimate a hive in a very short time. The Honey Buzzard generally observes foraging flights of bees or wasps from a perch, where it can sit motionless for hours. It also preys on yellow jacket wasps that, in turn, prey on bees, so perhaps that’s its way of ‘paying forward.’ Pernis apivorus is found from Scandinavia to South Africa, migrating in each direction to avoid the onset of winter. Bee-Eaters (Merops sp.) – Nine species migrate between Russia and South Africa, with a smaller presence in South-East Asia. While these smallish birds do not attack hives, they prey on bees flying to or from the hide, hawking from tree branches or telephone lines, etc. Honeyguides - The Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator) has a perfectly apt scientific name! Not interested in bees for themselves but rather for their honey, this cunning bird will wait on a branch in the African Veldt – or more correctly, veld – after locating a beehive. When a human or honey badger comes along, it chatters away and draws them to the hive. The first time I experienced this in Africa, I had no clue what was going on and followed the bird, thinking it was injured, but lo and behold, it led me to a natural beehive in an Acacia thorn tree. Once the human or badger opens the hive and removes most of the honey, the Honeyguide waits for them to leave, then moves in to mop up. What Birds In North America Eat Bees? In the US and Canada, Scarlet Tanagers, Summer Tanagers, Northern Cardinals, and Purple Martins will be another source of avian concern, along with Scrub Jays. Practically speaking, with your queen bee laying upward of 1500 eggs per day, they’re no genuine concern unless you are hit by a flock, which is unheard of. Most of our birds in North America are omnivores that enjoy a varied diet. They eat bees when convenient but will move on to other food sources like berries, worms, seeds, or other insects as these become more readily available. I recommend you relax and enjoy your bees, and remember that, like bees, birds are a part of the ecosystem, and they deserve their place in nature. Starting Out As A Beekeeper – Are Birds A Problem? When first starting your beekeeping lifestyle, the last thing you want to do is donate any part of your small colony of bees to the local bird population, no matter how much you may love birds. You will want your colony to take hold quickly and permanently with the barest amount of loss possible. So, what can we all do to limit the dangers? Conclusion Bees and birds are wonderful creatures that can live in perfect harmony with very little planning. Both species were here long before pesky humans arrived, and if we don’t mess things up too severely, they may be here when we all depart. Enjoy your wildlife in its most natural setting and if you lose a few bees to birds, know you have contributed to the food chain...

Recent Posts