Watch Out for This Unexpected Guest at Your New York Bird Feeder

Hudson Valley, NY residents are getting some unexpected guests at their birdfeeders... and they're not from the list of usual suspects.

Surprisingly, birdfeeders can be one of the most polarizing items in New York State. While there are some safety concerns surrounding the feeders, especially concerning their ability to attract bears, a recent discovery is more novel than scary.

A Saugerties, NY resident says they witnessed a very surprising guest at their hummingbird feeder (Mike Breiding - Epic Road Trips via YouTube)

Unexpected Guests at New York Bird Feeder

"Humming Birds a little bigger this year", came the tongue-in-cheek caption from a Saugerties, NY resident in a local Facebook page. The creatures certainly had wings, but that was one of their only similarities to the dainty hummingbird.

The animal in question was a New York bat.

Bats Eating from Hummingbird Feeders in New York and Beyond

"Wow. I'd love to have them visit mine", wished one commenter. "Amazing!", marveled another. Perhaps unsurprisingly, bats are just one of the many creatures who are attracted by the nectar meant to fuel one of nature's most fascinating birds.

Other New York Animals Who Love Hummingbird Feeders

"The squirrels eat ours. Have never seen a bat at the feeders. Amazing!" offered another hummingbird birdfeeder owner. "I have a woodpecker that visits daily. The hummingbirds are not intimidated lol", offered a second. There might be a reason, however, to specifically encourage the bats to have an extra dinner.

New York squirrels aren't the only animal who love to grab a snack at local birdfeeders (Canva)

Bats Threatened in New York State

Recently, a "die-off" of thousands of cave bats caught environmental scientists by surprise. The affected bats were species that hibernated in caves, and were observed to have white fungus around their noses, leading to the affliction being named "white-nose syndrome".

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New York residents looking to help increase the bat population can take simple steps like building bat boxes on their property and avoiding visiting caves in the fall and winter seasons to avoid disturbing hibernating species. Learn more about these fascinating creatures below.