Caretaker's note: Due to colony collapse disorder (CCD), bee populations are declining nationwide. watersto_jennystone caretakers are glad to see healthy populations of bees on the land. However, their competition with hummingbirds over the sugar water in the hummingbird feeders has caused concern for the hummingbirds. The bees are attracted to the color yellow. To deter bees from taking over the feeders, caretakers swab a bit of olive oil on the yellow feeding ports of the hummingbird feeder.

Caretaker's note: Because large numbers of bees completely surround the hummingbird feeders for the sugar water, the hummingbirds avoid those feeders. To deter bees, the bee covered feeders are removed and emptied of the feeding solution. The sugar water was poured into a large pot some distance from the hummingbird feeding area. Once the bees were relocated, the hummingbird feeders were treated with olive oil on the feeding ports to further deter the bees and allow the hummingbirds to feed easily.