Re: How do I keep wasps away from my hummingbird feeder?

No, April, I don't think you can.

It is not surprising that a nectar-like food source will attract nectar feeders, and the only reason there are not more insects visiting the feeder is that most species prefer the real McCoy.

Are you sure you should be trying to feed one species preferentially ? Are hummingbirds "good", and wasps "bad" ? Natural food sources are open to competition between species, so why not artificial ones ?

In fact, are you sure you should be feeding any wild species at all ? Hummingbirds live in your area at a certain density because there is the right amount of the right kind of food for them. Artificial food sources are almost certainly the wrong amount of the wrong kind, and can do a surprising amount of harm. In this country (UK) people have long fed scraps to birds at bird tables, but now there is a craze for gigantic food hoppers, which are presumably intended to attract more birds, on the principle that "more is better".

There have been spectacular declines of common garden birds, which may be due to diseases which are always present in any population, but who's transmission is regulated by the amount of contact individuals have with each other. Clustering of birds at feeders, already tainted with droppings, can increase the rate of transmission, leading to developement of an epidemic. Also, successful large scale artificial feeding can raise local population levels beyond the natural carrying capacity of the area, leading to stress and, again, increased disease transmission rates.

I suppose one answer to your problem is to try to exterminate wasps in your area, but in my opinion this is merely adding ecological insult to injury, and they will be back again the next year.

Let it be, April ! Get out of the house, go and find the hummingbirds in their natural habitat - it will do you and them good !

Richard Kingsley adds:

Other environmental factors will control the population of hummingbirds such as nesting sites, the availability of overwintering sites and the availability of insects to supplement their diet. Do not worry in this case about causing overpopulation. Attracting hummingbirds to feeders is a fun activity. Humming birds are territorial and this will limit the numbers around the feeder. Also, they can only feed one at a time. In England , it has been estimated that up to 80% of urban birds are supported by the human population, so it may well be considered a problem there.

It is true that many insects will just feed off nectar, however, that does not mean that there is something wrong with feeding hummingbirds sugar solution. Hummingbirds will naturally supplement their diet with other things and the sugar provides these birds with the enormous amounts of energy that they need. Do not feed hummingbirds honey or any other type of "natural sugar" because it carries a fungus that kills them. The honey also cannot be digested by hummingbirds. Make sure you keep the feeder scrupulously clean and free from mold. Use vinegar to wash the feeder and not detergents.

I do agree that you could plant more flowers to attract hummingbirds. They are attracted especially to red flowers. Try the following:

Fuschias are best.

Also try

lantana
bottle brush
grevillea
butterfly bush
impatiens, lupine, scarlet sage
columbine, red-hot poker
bee balm
beard tongue.

Good luck and enjoy watching these marvellous birds.