Put the feeder out before you think you need to, and use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water.

Yes: 1:4 — one cup sugar, four cups water. Boil, cool, fill. No red dye, no honey, no artificial sweeteners. Honey ferments, dye is unnecessary, and plain white sugar is what they evolved for.

Early spring means before the flowers bloom — think late March or early April depending on where you live. The first migrants (usually male ruby-throats) show up hungry and tired. If your feeder is ready, they’ll remember it all season.

Clean the feeder every few days in warm weather — mold kills hummingbirds fast. And don’t bother with fancy “nectar” from the store. Sugar water costs pennies and works exactly the same.

A clean 1:4 feeder out early is the single best thing you can do.