Some time back a mention was made of hummingbirds and attracting them to your yard.  If you don't attract the scouts now, you may not get any birds at all by trying later in the year.

Next weekend would be a good time to put out a feeder to attract the scouts if you are in the Mid-South area.  Any feeder will do, they don't have to  be big or expensive.  Mix 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of warm tap water  and stir to dissolve the sugar.  Experts say to boil the water, but I've  done it this way for years and it doesn't seem to have hurt the birds.  Do  NOT use red mixtures or add food coloring to the water.  It doesn't  matter to the birds and the red coloring can harm them. 

This time of year the sugar water should stay good for a week or more  before you should have to change it.  In the summer it gets hot and  ferments, so you should change it every three or four days.  Just wash the  feeder in hot water and put new sugar water in.  If you don't have many  birds and throw away a lot of sugar water, cut the recipe in half.

You can hang it near the house, near a window, from a porch, from a shepherd's crook or from a tree.  The little birds aren't afraid to be near humans, but if you are allergic to wasps or bees, don't put it near where you'll  be outside.  It will attract them and ants.  The ants can be kept away by putting some Vaseline on the pole or on the string or wire the  feeder hangs from, but I've never discovered anything to keep the wasps,  bees and yellow jackets away that is safe for the birds.

Once the scouts discover your feeder, they'll get the word out and you should start seeing hummingbirds at your feeder in April.  They are feisty little boogers and will battle ferociously all over your yard to keep from  sharing with each other.  In October they will leave for the winter.   We sure do miss them.    Peggy M. T.