Ruby throat hummingbirds and Baltimore Orioles will be landing soon - possibly within hours! My notes from prior years typically have Orioles arriving between May 1-3 and Hummingbirds 7-10 days later, but this year everything is so messed up, so who knows! Better to get feeders out now, just in case.

When they do arrive, they will be depleted from their long journeys and desperately in need of some carbs (think finish line of Boston Marathon kind of hungry!). Be sure to thoroughly clean and sterilize your jelly and nectar feeders before filling. A diluted bleach solution is the most effective for eliminating dangerous mold - just be sure to rinse thoroughly. Monitor closely for mold and spoiled nectar, jelly and fruit.