Help..hummingbird feeder mystery

[Zoigal]

For some time now, i have noticed that after filling the hummers' feeder, the juice disappears
quickly and it always happens at night. Put eight ounces in yesterday PM, and this AM it is
totally empty. Checked for leaks. None. Are there night feeding hummers/ or other nectar
feeding critters? Any ideas, anyone? Thanks.....z

[livetohike]

1. Bears???

I don't know of anything else that would take care of that at night. The bear(s) have destroyed more than one of our hummingbird feeders since we've moved here three years ago. I guess it's possible they can just tilt it to drink all the liquid :shrug:.

[Zoigal]

2. Don't think there's any bears in this area (SoCal),

but i read where there could be a type of bat that lives in the SW that might be the culprit.
We do have raccoons, but the feeder is placed so that it would be impossible for them to reach it.
And it has remained intact. Raccoons normally take them apart. But thanks for the input....z

[livetohike]

3. Bats - wow, I never thought of that

Since you are in SoCal, that would be something if it was a bear :-). I lived in SoCal for 13+ years and hiked all over the mountains and never saw one.

I'll be putting out the hummingbird feeder here soon. I'm diligently bringing in the seed and suet feeders at night now. The bears came out of hibernation a few weeks earlier this year and destroyed two seed feeders three weeks ago.

[david13]

4. I was thnking of bats or ants or ... evaporation? Flies? dc

[Zoigal]

5. Have never seen ants or flies on the feeder, david

Sometimes a wasp or two during the day though. So at this point am assuming it must be a bat(s). Going to refill today and see what happens
tonight. Thanks for answering....z

[david13]

6. Bees? Why no one sez bees? dc

[japple]

7. Someone in the Birdwatching forum might be able to help.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=294

[badgerpup]

8. Some moths are night feeders...

...and are fond of nectar.
IIRC, they are rather LARGE critters...pretty too. Worth watching for.

[Zoigal]

10. Forgot about moths.

Going to have to keep sharper eye. No activity the last couple of nights though....z

[KC]

9. There are lots

of critters that do this. Here, squirrels will
drink the hummingbird feeders dry. Also raccoons
but mainly it's the squirrels.
Usually if there are ants, there will be some
that get in the sugar water and not get out, so
you'll see some dead ones floating.


KC

[MajorChode]

13. If it's squirrels, you'll see them during the day

Raccoons feed pretty much exclusively at night.

[XemaSab]

11. I can't think of any night feeding birds

but I bet bats would be really tempted by hummingbird feeders.

Raccoons too.

[MajorChode]

12. It's probably a raccoon

They are infamous hummingbird feeder raiders.

Edit:
Check your local outdoor stores for a game camera. You'll probably get some interesting pictures of your feeder getting raided.

[Zoigal]

17. Will do, Major. Haven't heard of a game camera. Sound interesting....z

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. These folks used a remote camera to discover

who was raiding their feeder at night:

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=847871

[david13]

15. Actually, there are many bears in So Cal. Not in the city itself,

but into the mountainous areas all around the city, and into Orange, Riverside and Santa Barbara counties.
dc

[FloriTexan]

16. The wind has been emptying mine lately n/t

[Zoigal]

18. Gee, hadn't thought of that. We have had some strong winds here

this spring. That might be the answer....thanks.....z