Each year I am particular about hanging a birdfeeder through the winter then taking it down once food sources are reliable. Then I hang my hummingbird feeder in anticipation of their arrival from Central America. It truly amazes me that animals so small can make such a long trip- no wonder they need to drink sugar water to meet their energy needs! I mix mine in a 4:1 ratio of boiling water to sugar (no need for red food coloring) and then just let it cool to room temperature before filling the feeders.
A couple of years ago, I learned a great tidbit from a colleague at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. You should hang your hummingbird feeder when red buckeyes start to bloom. This is a spring flowering understory tree with tubular flowers that are pollinated by the ruby throated hummingbird among others. Last year I saw the trees flowering at the NCBG and duly hung my feeder. Then last fall, I bought a buckeye for my yard and have had the pleasure of watching it flower (though I'll admit that it isn't in the ground quite yet).
Yesterday I was sitting on my front porch and saw my first male ruby throated visiting the feeder. It took him less than a day to find the first feeder and only hours to find the second one. Talk about instant gratification! Now I'm looking forward to having multiple birds in my itty bitty front yard chattering at each other as they claim my territory for their own. (Friends are invited to join me for this and a cold beverage this summer).
For more information about ruby throated hummingbirds and to hear their call check out Cornell's site.
