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Have you ever observed that your hummingbird feeders were empty when you woke up the next morning? We know the hummers are only active during the daytime and sleep the whole night. There must be some nocturnal that loves to gulp nectar at night.

Yes, you are right, the bats are the real culprit that swill down hummers’ nectar. I know it is frustrating to see the empty feeder due to the raids of these bats. You need not worry, here are super simple but efficient techniques for avoiding these sneaky bats from the feeders. 

Before diving deep,  let’s see the drinking difference between bats and hummingbirds, identify if bats raid your hummers’ feeders, the damages we face when bats hover frequently, and tips to protect hummers’ feeders from bats.

The drinking difference between Bats And Hummingbirds

When it comes to drinking, everyone has their particular method but the heavy drinkers are the creatures that feed on nectar.  When you get almost all your energy from sugar water, you drink a lot. Hummingbirds, for instance, flick their tongues in and out of a flower or prepared nectar 15 to 20 times a second. This is exactly how their specialized tongues work.

But nectar-drinking bats have proved more of a problem. Some of them lap up nectar with a hairy tongue dipping rapidly in and out of the hummingbird feeders. When they drink, their tongues are hardly moving. They may be using a combination of capillary action and tiny muscular pumps to draw nectar up the long grooves on either side of the tongue.

However, it works it’s not like any other tongue we know of but we do know it has to be efficient because they consume one hundred and fifty percent of their body weight in nectar each night. So they can drink the nectar.

The behavior of different bats

Before discussing the methods to protect hummingbird feeders, let’s first notice the strange behavior of bats. Most of the bats eat insects but some specific species of bats mostly attract hummingbird feeders’ nectar.

The nectarivorous bats are the Lesser long-nosed bat and the Mexican long-tongued bat. On observing them, you’ll see that these long-tongued bats are the reason they can get nectar from the tiny pores of the hummer feeders.

In Idaho, I had more than 9 hummingbird feeders in my backyard and the first time I saw the bats hanging from my hummingbird feeders.  The reason is that they usually hover to eat something and find the feeders with perches installed are their favorites and the sweetness of nectar is their attraction.

The bats are quick in drinking nectar, It has been observed that the Mexican long-tongued bat can eat up to 0.67 of an ounce, in 106 minutes. These bats migrate from Mexico to southern Arizona in the spring. They begin to appear at feeders as early as July and are often seen until late October when they return south.

To Identify if Bats Are Raiding Your Hummingbird Feeders

Whenever bats visit the hummingbird’s feeders they leave their signs behind, and you can easily identify if the bats created a mess or if it was something else. Here are common signs that indicate the bat raids at hummer feeders:

• Empty feeders in the morning: If your filled feeder is empty by morning, it was drained by bats. Hummingbirds do not feed at night, so an empty feeder is a good indicator of bat activity.
• Bat droppings (guano) around the feeder: Look for bat droppings, known as guano, on the ground or surfaces near the feeder. Bat droppings can look very similar to rice grains but in a dark color. Bats are messy eaters and will leave behind evidence of their nocturnal visits.
• Messy feeding habits: Bats seem careless when feeding and can spill nectar around the feeder. This sticky residue can attract ants on the ground and bees to the feeder. If you notice an increase in insects around the feeder, especially in the morning, bats may be the culprit.

Problems With Bats At Hummingbird Feeders

Here are some problems you might face while having bats frequent your hummingbird feeders.

Damage To Feeders

One of the first things I noticed was the damage to my feeders. Bats are strong and can be a bit rough when they try to drink the nectar. After some time I realized that the feeder ports were wearing out much faster than they should. This not only makes the feeders look old but can also make them less effective at holding the nectar. 

Contamination Of Nectar

Nectar contamination is also a major problem when bats drink from the feeders. When the bats raid the feeders to take nectar, they leave behind their saliva that gets into the nectar. 

I am always cautious about keeping the nectar fresh for my hummingbirds, so nectar contamination was a big problem. Hummingbirds are not attracted to the contaminated nectar and it can also be very harmful to the hummingbirds if they drink it. 

Decreased Hummingbird Visits

I am a hummingbird lover and I always plant flowers to attract hummingbirds. Once, I noticed that my hummingbirds were no longer interested in the flowers and feeders in my backyard when bats were around.

The presence of bats might make them feel uneasy, even if the bats aren’t directly threatening them. I’ve seen this happen in my garden, and it can be quite frustrating for a person who always tries to attract the hummers.

Techniques to Protect Hummingbird Feeders From Bats

It is a fact that bats are creatures of habit, and if they once discovered your hummingbird feeders then they will visit you again and again in a routine. Follow some techniques to protect the hummingbird feeders from bats. Here are the methods that you can opt to deter bats:

Choose The Right Time To Hang Feeders

One of the easiest methods is to take your feeders down at night. Bats are most active after sunset, remove the feeders before dusk, and it will leave no option for bats to visit your backyard. This prevents them from getting to the nectar.

Remember that our beautiful hummers wake up before sunrise. Now it is your responsibility to just hang the feeders back up in the early morning, the hummers can enjoy them during the day. Trust me, this is the simplest but the most effective technique, and assisted me in keeping bats away.

Use Feeders With Specific Designs

You can also use specific design feeders to protect them from the bats. These feeders usually have smaller feeding ports or more complex designs that bats find difficult to use. I switched to one of these, and it made a difference. Here are a few of the designs that I tested:

• Bat-proof cages of feeders: You can place a cage around your feeder to make it hard for the bats to go through it. These cages create a barrier that hummingbirds can easily cross, but bats can’t. You can buy these cages or make your own at home.
• DIY bat-proofing options: If you are a person who loves to do it yourself, there are a few things you can try at home. For example, you can add small, removable barriers around the feeding ports at night or hang the feeders in spots that are harder for bats to reach, like under a dense tree canopy.
• Feeders with Bee Guards: You can also use bee guards for the hummingbird feeders. These bee guards are to deter bees but are small mesh covers that can help keep bats away from nectar. It will still allow hummingbirds to have access to the nectar. This worked perfectly for me, and it’s an easy solution to implement it.

Use Bat Deterrents

If you want to keep bats away from your hummingbird feeders, there are some deterrents you can try that won’t harm the bats or your hummingbirds.

• Ultrasonic devices: Ultrasonic repellents work differently than other deterrents. They produce sounds at a frequency that bothers bats but is inaudible to birds and humans. When bats hear these sounds, they get annoyed and change their direction.
• Strong smells: Another trick is to use strong-smelling substances like coffee grounds or citrus peels. Bats have a strong sense of smell, and these scents can deter them from reaching the hummer feeders. Just sprinkle a few coffee grounds around the area or place some citrus peels nearby.
• Water sprays: You can use motion-activated sprinklers or water sprays to deter bats at night. These water sprays are very effective. These devices detect movement and spray water, which can startle bats without causing them any harm.

Adjust The Placement Of Feeders

I have observed that sometimes changing the location of your feeders can make a big difference. Bats are less likely to visit feeders that are placed in areas that are fully bright or areas that are more exposed.

You can try to hang your feeders closer to the house or in a spot that gets more light at night, and you’ll see that this works perfectly. Bats prefer darker areas, so installing a light near your feeders might make the area less attractive to them.

When setting up your feeders, think about where bats might be coming from. If there’s a nearby tree or structure where bats are roosting then you must try placing your feeders on the opposite side of your yard.

If you want to attract more hummingbirds in your backyard, you must know that the placement of a hummingbird feeder is essential to consider. You can read this Strategic Guide About Where to Place Hummingbird Feeders. 

How Can You Make Bat Cages For Hummingbird Feeders?

You can make the bat cage at your home by following these easy steps:

Materials Needed

• 4’ x 8’ Remesh Sheet (can be purchased from stores)
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Wire for securing the mesh
• Hanger chain

Buy The Remesh Sheet

Buy a remesh sheet 4’x 8’ from any hardware store near you. This is the main thing you will be using to make the cage.

Measure And Mark

The next step is to measure the size of the cage that you want to build, the size will be according to the size of the feeder, and then mark the mesh sheet with those measurements.

Cut The Remesh

Then using the wire cutters you need to cut along the lines you have drawn on the mesh. The edges should be smooth to avoid any injury.

Bend Into Shape

Now you have to bend the mesh into a cylinder or rectangle depending on the shape of your hummingbird feeder. These gaps should be of approximately 6”x 6”.

Secure And Hang

Secure the ends of the cage with the wires and add a hanger chain on the upper part. Put the cage around the feeder and fix it at the place where you want to hang it.

Conclusion

Keeping the bats away is not very difficult if you follow all the techniques discussed in this guide. It is possible to save the nectar for your hummingbirds by following a few measures such as removing feeders at night or using special feeders. Do not forget that bats are not enemies of the birds but they also enjoy the sweet nectar as much as the birds do.

If you got your own tips or stories about keeping bats away from your feeders, I’d love to hear them. Drop a comment below and share your experience.

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