The Overlooked Reason People Add Ant Moats To Hummingbird Feeders (It's Not Just For Pests)

It's not surprising that folks are always looking for ways to keep pesky ants out of hummingbird feeders. Ants can clog up the feeder's drinking holes, reducing the nectar's appeal to hummers. The ant moat, a product developed around the early 1990s, is designed to keep ants out of feeders by placing a water barrier between them and the nectar. While some ant species are strong swimmers, many don't do well in water; they simply choose not to enter the ant moat and turn around when they encounter it. However, these accessories have other benefits. An interesting phenomenon was reported online — birds drinking water from the ant moats. Some have even been observed bathing in the moats.

So, what's wrong with meeting the hydration needs of any bird in your yard? Absolutely nothing, but it means you'll need to be vigilant about the quality and quantity of water in the moat. You'll need to refresh it often with clean water and replenish water consumed by birds and lost to evaporation.

Because of the sneaky ways ants get in your hummingbird feeder, ant moats can be an effective solution. The moats come in a number of styles; most go above the feeder, some are attached below, and others are built into the feeder tray. So if you're on board with supporting the hydration needs of all your avian visitors, choose a moat design where birds can easily access the water and will be easy to clean and refill. You can even DIY an ant moat in a pinch. 

You'll want to check your ant moats frequently; clean and refill them if you see slime or dead ants. Add fresh water as needed as it recedes from evaporation and bird hydration; emptying and refilling the water every few days is an ideal routine in case mosquito larvae take up residence in the ant moat. Be especially watchful on hot summer days when water can evaporate quickly. The same is true if you live in a hot, dry climate. Note that the ant moats that are built in to feeders tend to be small, so water disappears quickly.

It's critical to keep any kind of chemicals out of the ant-moat water. Further, using pesticide in or around your ant moats might seem like a faster solution to the ant problem, but it can be deadly to birds drinking from the moats. The added pest-control feature will keep ants away and birds refreshed.