It’s peak season for bird watchers to spot migrating hummingbirds, and our favorite foods are on sale

Although most people I associate the beginning of March with the hope of spring and the humiliations of spring Daylight saving timeThere is another important event taking place across the country: hummingbird season.

While many hummingbird species can be seen in the areas year-round, others are migratory, and this time usually marks their return from their wintering grounds in Central and South America. These tiny birds can lose up to 40 percent of their body weight when they arrive here after traveling thousands of miles by plane, and since many flowers have not yet opened, nectar feeders can be a source of essential fuel.

Although I am Test smart bird feeders year roundI don’t use hummingbird feeders as much as I should, Because it needs to be cleaned And refilling it with new nectar every two or three days (a 1:4 ratio of granulated sugar to water is best, avoiding any dyes or additives) to prevent deadly bacteria and mold, and I don’t always have the time.

But if you’re going to invest your energy into maintaining a hummingbird feeder, now is the best time, as you have a chance to see migratory species you might not encounter otherwise, such as Black-chinned hummingbirds. The Smart Feeder helps you identify them, whether they’re stopping at your feeder on their way north or arriving at their final destination.

Birdbuddy’s Pro is the smart hummingbird feeder I recommend and use myself when I’m not actively testing it. The app is easy to navigate and sends cleaning reminders, the built-in solar roof keeps the battery charged, and unlike other feeders, only the shallow bottom can be unscrewed for refilling. No need to pour sticky nectar through a narrow opening, or turn a giant cylinder upside down and risk spilling.

Note that it’s not perfect; The sensor is inconsistent and doesn’t pick up every hummingbird it visits, but for camera quality (5MP photos, 2K video with slow motion, 122-degree field of view) and ease of use, it’s a weakness I’m willing to put up with. If you already have another Birdbuddy feeder, photos and videos of your hummingbird feeder will be seamlessly integrated into your app feed.

Right now, the feeder is 37 percent off on Birdbuddy’s website, which is a deal I don’t usually see outside of shopping events like Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day. Note that the feeder only works on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and while it’s fully functional without a subscription, a Birdbuddy Premium subscription will allow you to add friends and family members to your account so they can see the birds, too. That’s $99 per year through the app.

Enjoy unlimited access to Wired. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe today.