All About Baltimore Orioles

We have Baltimore Orioles that come nest in our area.  We didn't pay too much attention before, only spotting them once, but now that we've been looking for them and built a feeder for them, we see them a lot, and it was such an exciting day when they first came back!  J heard them before we actually saw them.  

Orioles are sometimes called weaver birds because the females weave these lovely hanging basket nests.  This picture was taken at a neighboring farm.  We were on our way to go birding and Mom finally worked up the nerve to pull the car into their driveway and investigate.  In spite of the farm dogs and the embarrassed kids, she was thrilled to see her first real-life oriole nest, even if it was an old one!  

This Mama Oriole went a bit bonkers, pecking at our windows trying to get of all the strings she saw.  We had to take the screens down so that she would stop incessantly hitting the glass.  We put pieces of string and yarn on the deck and porch and in the trees, but that abundant supply didn't seem to appease her.

Orioles especially love grape jelly and oranges, which is what the feeder we built for them holds, but we've seen them in the mulberry tree and raspberry bushes.  They also like cutworms, so they are omnivores.  You might see orange feeder out, these are full of nectar meant for orioles too.  You can use the exact same nectar recipe as you would for hummingbirds.  This is great because, though they are more attracted to red, hummingbirds will stop at Oriole feeders, and the opposite is true too.  Putting up feeders can attract them both to your yard.  They migrate at about the same time; we noticed them in our area in late April, early May.   It's recommended that you put up your feeders before they are due to arrive. 

Nectar Recipe:
4 or 5 parts boiling water to 1 part sugar. 
Mix until dissolved.  Let cool. 
 Store left-over nectar in fridge for up to a week.

Top: Male Oriole at the nectar feeders.

Bottom: Female Oriole at the nectar feeders. 

Male 

 Female

   We haven't seen our crazy Mama Oriole for a while.  We keep searching the trees for signs of a basket in our own yard since we see them around so much, but so far haven't found anything.  We'll keep our eyes peeled and let you know if we ever find it!

But I'd bet they keep their secret.  She's looking pretty secure and smug!