Choose a feeder design that:

• is easy to clean and refill, with few or no hidden nooks and crannies
• holds enough for 2 to 3 days of average use
• has no yellow parts if bees are likely to be a problem.

Bottle-style feeders are most inclined to leak and attract unwelcome insects, but saucer-style feeders may be too small for high-traffic areas and are prone to rapid evaporation in high winds and low humidity.

Fill your feeder with 1 part white granulated sugar to 3 or 4 parts water. DO NOT use red dye, honey, brown sugar, artificial sweeteners, or commercial "instant nectar" mixes! The solution can be made slightly weaker (1 to 5) in the late-spring/early-summer dry season and slightly stronger (1 to 3) from August through February for migrating and wintering birds. Solutions stronger than 1 to 3 are may not meet the birds' water needs and are not recommended.

Clean and refill the feeder every 2 to 5 days, depending on weather and usage (more frequently in warm, windy, and./or rainy weather). To kill stubborn molds, soak the feeder in a strong, hot vinegar solution or a weak chlorine bleach solution and rinse thoroughly.

For additional information on selecting and maintaining feeders, see SABO's Hummingbird F.A.Q.s.