ComputerGuy Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Turning on the back yard light the other night, we noticed a flock of bats circling rapidly around the perimeter. We realized they were landing briefly on the hummer feeder, taking a gulp, and then flapping off in the circle to allow the next thirsty winger. Pretty fascinating to watch and even got a little bit of video. The only problem is we don't really want to either a: feed both birds and bats, or b: remove the feeder every night at dusk and replace it every morning at dawn. Does anyone know of a way to prevent the bats, or at least keep them at bay, without giving up the pleasures of watching the hummingbirds vie for power over the hanging strawberry? (We used water and sugar, not jarabe.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisy2013 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 bring it inside at night time if you do not want the bats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted June 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 bring it inside at night time if you do not want the bats As I said, looking for other options, if they exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I suppose you could go out and cover the feeder, and uncover it in the morning - but no less work than just taking the feeder inside. Plus you can check for mold and see if the feeder nectar needs changing when you bring it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Ditto-don't know of any other ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gimpychimp Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 We tie a plastic grocery bag around it at night as soon as the sun sets or the bats always find it and clean it out, making a very sticky mess below it every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilligan Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 We have two of the strawberry feeders thet sell at the animal shelter. We cover with a large sized ziplock at night. Works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floradude Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I also use the grocery store plastic bags. ...come up from the bottom and tie at top. Simple! The hard part is remembering to cover as darkness approaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puro guero Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Over time, we've figured out how much the hummingbirds consume in a day, and we only fill the feeder with that much each morning. This is more to conserve sugar water, than to discourage the bats. We actually enjoy the bats. Bats will eat insects when other sources of food are scarce, and I think this may be the reason we seem to have very few mosquitos at times when others seem to be plagued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted June 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Thanks, everyone. I like bats too, actually. It is kind of amazing to see them do this. But I think I like hummingbirds more. I like the idea of just putting in enough juice for the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkshawn Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Solar powered spot lamp works for us on our 2 feeders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrylaxen Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Hola Computerguy, Buy a hummzinger. They are available on Amazon. They come with small plastic nipples that allow the sharp beaks of hummingbirds to pass through, but prevent the soft tongues of bats to penetrate. Problem solved. Best wishes, Henry Laxen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WA4KDC Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 As endangered as bats are & considering they eat more than their own weight in insects every night, I'd feel better about putting the feeders out at dusk and bringing them in at dawn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 WOW! I have a 15 year old Hummzinger that I brought with me, but this new version looks even better. Absolutely the best hummingbird feeder ever - easy to keep clean, hummers love them and they are indestructible. Looks like you need the Hummzinger Ultra to get the anti insect and bat feature. Well worth the price. http://www.amazon.com/Aspects-367-Hummzinger-Hummingbird-12-Ounce/dp/B000CSH7VA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 As endangered as bats are & considering they eat more than their own weight in insects every night, I'd feel better about putting the feeders out at dusk and bringing them in at dawn! Since bats are nocturnal creatures, I think you mean the opposite, si? Another point of view: Hummers love vines; they come in droves to ours; color doesn't matter, either. How about skipping the feeders and planting the nectar sources they love? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted June 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I think she means she'd rather feed the bats...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I think she means she'd rather feed the bats...? Well, maybe, but if you want them to fill up on insects, it wouldn't make sense to fill 'em up with sugar water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted June 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Sure, but I'm not here to discuss the merits--or lack thereof--of whether one way is "better" than another. I have a hummingbird feeder, and an oriole feeder, and they are staying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Sure, but I'm not here to discuss the merits--or lack thereof--of whether one way is "better" than another. I have a hummingbird feeder, and an oriole feeder, and they are staying. Of course they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVGRINGO Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 There are fruit bats and also insectivorous bats. I think it is the fruit bats which are attracted to hummingbird feeders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeser Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Yes these are fruit bats and they can eat out of the Humzinger feeders. For the hanging feeders they just smack into the and go hang to lick themselves clean. They also actually hover and stick their tounges in the holes on the feeders that I have afixed to PVC poles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha1 Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 My experiences with feeders and bats... These shots took a lot of patience and stillness... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted June 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Good photos. That feeder is for orioles, and the holes are much bigger than a standard hummingbird station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xena Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Alpha1: Great photos! Thank you for sharing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbviajero Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Good photos. That feeder is for orioles, and the holes are much bigger than a standard hummingbird station.That's the most common hummingbird feeder sold here. The photos are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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