While the phrase “the birds and the bees” is generally considered a euphemism for sexual activity, in Madera Canyon, the birds and the bees were constantly competing for access to the feeders…and there was no hanky-panky involved. The hummers were quite wary of the bees, mostly honey bees but there were some wasps and some large bumble bees buzzing around the feeders as well. Some of the feeders seemed to attract swarms of bees while other feeders were free of bees. The hummers avoided those feeders that were completely covered with bees. I can empathize with the hummers’ wariness about the bees. A honeybee stung my calf a couple of days ago while I was out for a morning walk. My calf is still quite swollen and sore. I can’t imagine what would happen to a tiny hummingbird if it got stung by a bee. This female Broad-billed Hummingbird appears to be in a stand-off with the honeybee guarding the feeder.