Every March, ruby-throated hummingbird scouts arrive in the Midlands of South Carolina to look for all the best spots to forage and raise their brood. You can have one or more of these amazing birds visiting your feeder on a daily basis. Start with a feeder designed especially for them. Local stores carry a variety of styles, from simple to elegant. My favorite feeder is a red flying-saucer-shaped container that comes apart for easy cleaning. Fill the feeder with a mixture of four parts water and one part granulated sugar. Heat the water and sugar on the stove so that the sugar will dissolve completely. If you allow the mixture to boil for a minute, it will help retard spoilage while it's stored in the refrigerator. The feeder should be emptied and refilled every few days, more often in hot weather. It's a good idea to wash the feeder once a week in a sink filled with four parts water to one part white vinegar.

I first enjoyed feeding hummingbirds when I lived in a large apartment complex, so it's not necessary to have a yard filled with flowers or a big porch or patio in order to enjoy these tiny and energetic creatures. If you put the feeder out early, keep it clean, and fill it with a fresh mixture of sugar and water, you will be rewarded with the sight of these jewels of the sky zooming in and out as they compete for a spot at your feeder.

The Richland County Public Library has a variety of titles that can tell you more about hummingbirds - their amazing migration to and from the rain forests, as well as their habits and nature.