One of the most popular websites around this time of year is www.hummingbirdcentral.com because springtime and the promise of warmer weather mean the arrival of hummingbirds.
The site offers an interactive map that you can follow and post sightings of the tiny creatures so others are watchful and prepared for the guests’ arrival.
If you already own hummingbird feeders, make sure they are clean and free of contaminants, such as mold, which can make the birds sick. Fill them up with fresh food (sugar water easily made with 4 parts water and one part sugar — a cup of water to 1/4 cup of sugar for example). Boil the water as you would when making jello and stir in the sugar until dissolved, and then make sure the mixture is cool before pouring it into your feeder. (The red, store-bought concoctions with dye can be harmful to their health and it’s totally unnecessary.)
You can store the sugar water in a refrigerator for up to two weeks and then discard it.
Be sure to change the water in your feeder regularly, especially as the summer months approach, as it can spoil more quickly. When hanging your feeders, find a spot that isn’t directly in the sun all day long, partial shade would be better for the sugar water and your visitors.
Once they know the feeder is in your yard, the birds will keep coming back to it, and most likely they will bring friends along with them. My friend in Orange has great success every year and relishes the daily visits.
Enjoy watching your hummingbird visitors and try not to make sudden or loud movements, or you will scare them away.
With hummingbirds, patience is a virtue. Once you learn their routine, you can anticipate their arrival time and be ready and waiting with a camera, or even a grandchild to enjoy the company.