I was made aware that using olive oil, or any other kind of oil around hummers is not a good idea. I sent an email to lanny@hummingbirds.net. His response was as follows:

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I'm opposed to putting any sort of oil, grease, or other substance where a bird could possibly come into contact with it.

If you have a bee problem, you're using a feeder that rewards their efforts; better feeders are available. For suggestions, visit my Feeders page(hummingbirds.net)and click on Bees.

In a follow-up email I asked:

> Are you concerned about the olive oil getting into their diet; the oil coming in contact with their feathers; or all of the above?

He responded:

All of the above. Hummingbird digestive systems are not designed to deal with vegetable oils.

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And from our local "Bird Lady" who writes a column for the local paper and presents numerous programs on Hummers and other birds:

Interesting approach, but I'm not so sure about its effect on the hummers. They're bound to get some of the olive oil on their bills or maybe even their faces. Not good since they have no effective way to clean off the oil.

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So .... after a day of my hummers being able to get to the feeders to eat I have now wiped off the olive oil and hope that no one tells the bees.

As to the proper feeder, I've tried the Hummzinger but my hummers don't like it (the bees still get to it) and I end up discarding the fluid.

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I posted parts of this info previously, but felt it needed a heading of its own to alert others of the problems associated with using oils around hummers.

Back to the drawing boards.