Many people look forward to hummingbird season. Feeding and watching the antics of these hyperactive and sometimes pugnacious birds brings much joy.

When to hang hummingbird feeders is a different time period in each area of North America. You should hang your hummingbird feeders 2 weeks before their estimated arrival date.

Look at the hummingbird migration dates of previous years in your area to determine their estimated arrival.  The hummingbird migration starts as early as February in the Southern United States to late May into Canada.

Hummingbirds will surely appreciate having extra hummingbird food during the spring migration. Most hummingbirds migrate to southern climes in winter. They return very early in spring.

Nights are still cold and they may even encounter snow or freezing temperatures. Very few flowers are in bloom and insect food is scarce. Yet here they are, following their instinctive innate migratory behavior.

Your feeder can provide some needed energy to keep them going until they reach their final destination.

Thus, having your hummingbird feeders set up and out for the earliest migrants can really help them in spring. Hummingbirds don't all migrate at the same time.

The angle of the sun on their wintering grounds triggers their hormones and eventually the urge to migrate turns into action. Weather they encounter on their travels may aid or hamper their travels.

Some years the hummingbirds arrive before the nectar supplying flowers are in bloom. So you are ensuring a reliable nectar source that does not depend on weather.

If cold weather continues the hummingbirds can use the hibernation like state called torpor to conserve vital energy. Bring your feeders in at night and put them out early in the morning if the temperature continues below freezing.

Put out hummingbird feeders when the first wildflowers bud along the river bottoms. Hang up your hummingbird feeders when the early daffodils bloom. Start feeding hummingbirds when the ornamental flowering cherries first bloom.

Please note that not all hummingbirds are migratory. If you live in the southern or southwestern regions of the United States some species of hummingbirds such as the Anna’s can be year-round.

So anytime can be a good time to put up a feeder if you live is these areas.