Extension ServiceWhy are bees swarming my hummingbird feeder?
A mass of honey bees overwhelmed three hummingbird feeders in my yard over the weekend. They appear to be coming from a hive about 12 feet up in the cavity of an old oak tree. They've been up in the tree for years, but I've never seen them do this before. They are not aggressive, but they just seem frantic for food. Is there something I can do to support the hive?
Late summer and early Autumn is a very critical and difficult time of year for honey bees. We are at the driest part of the year, and there is very little in bloom, but colonies are at peak populations.
Try incorporating late-blooming species in your garden, such as the following:
- Russian sage
- Sunflowers
- California poppy
- Pacific aster
- Douglas aster
- Common yarrow
Read more about what to include in your garden to support pollinator populations in our publication Shrubs and Trees for Bees. It also includes maps of which plants grow well in the various regions of Oregon.
The bees should settle down in a few months as temperatures start to fall below 55° F.
