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Several (15+) years ago, I opted to suffer the bees. I had just installed/hung the season's first hummingbird feeder without the bee guards. Within a few days and prior to the hummers showing up, we noticed nectar was all over the window. I was confused until I saw a male Northern Oriole land on the feeder and chow down. When he'd push off, the nectar would go a-fly'n. This old Perky Pet feeder (still sold) has the four red blooms at the base with larger openings, large enough opening to allow the Orioles (Orchard Orioles use it too) to use the feeders. I have kept the (yellow) bee guards off these feeders ever since that day. In fact, I use the nectar covered window as a signal each spring to put out the grape jelly. As the feeding season lengthens, we continue to have a steady flow of the female/immature Orioles still using these type feeder. We are feeding Orioles today. It's our opinion that the reason we have always attracted and kept a large number of Orioles is due to their ability to feed throughout the Hummingbird feeding season. Not knocking the bee guards (at least not the nice safe straw type mentioned here) but I wanted to offer a reason why you might not wish to install them on every feeder. It's interesting, since we've planted the 8-9 acres around our home with warm-season native grasses and flowers, the Orchard Orioles are much more abundant. It's not an orchard, but they are seen all over the prairie grasses and annual weeds/flowers on a regular basis. Just a side note. Bob Foreman Smithville, Clay, Missouri ------------------------------------------------------------ The Audubon Society of Missouri's Wild Bird Discussion Forum List archives: https://po.missouri.edu/archives/mobirds-l.html