It is hard to imagine that the little baby oriole that left the nest in late June has already flow south for the winter. The last oriole I spotted was a week ago and now it will be next May before the orioles return to my yard.
Little Oriole Gone
Picture of the Day for May 9, 2022
Yesterday a variety of birds returned for the season so the yard was filled with extra sounds and angry calls as they fought over the feeders. The house wrens, Baltimore orioles, orchard orioles, rose-breasted grosbeak and ruby-throated hummingbirds were among the new spring arrivals.
Return of the Oriole
Picture of the Day for May 28, 2021
This oriole was enjoying the sunshine as it sang and preened. Maybe he was getting ready for a Friday night date with his girl.
Oriole Singing and Preening
Picture of the Day for May 20, 2021
Other birds seem to enjoy the flowering apple trees too and later when there are apples, more birds will savor eating the fruit.
Oriole in Blossoms
Picture of the Day for September 1, 2020
I think there are a few young orioles that tried to get a few more fun summer days in and didn’t leave when the rest of the orioles headed south as I had a group of three at the feeder a few days ago and a single oriole this morning. With the cooler temperatures, these youngsters passing through better get headed to their warmer winter home.
Stray Oriole
Picture of the Day for May 4, 2018
More birds are returning like the tree swallows and the grosbeaks. The orioles arrived on Monday, or at least the male Baltimore Orioles have. I am not sure why the males come first when it is the females that build the nest so it isn’t like he is getting the house ready. Instead he just complains when I am in the way and he can’t get to the sugar water or the jelly.
Oriole Getting a Drink
Picture of the Day for July 3, 2017
The other day, a baby grosbeak was screaming as it waited for its parents to bring some food to it, which they had to travel farther to get some as I forgot to fill the sunflower bird feeder. Today I was having trouble keeping the jelly and sugar water feeders filled for the orioles as they are now feeding their young too. This little oriole doesn’t look very cute yet, as it was just out of the nest, and hasn’t gotten rid of all its fuzzy feathers yet.
Baby Oriole Waiting for Food
Picture of the Day for May 19, 2017
Last Sunday, the birds were enjoying sunshine among the apple blossoms. The last few days, the orioles have been at the jelly and sugar water feeders as well as hiding on the porch during the rain.
Oriole in the Blossoms
Picture of the Day for August 2, 2016
With several nests of orioles, apparently most of the babies survived as there is a dozen or more young orioles lined up on the porch waiting, not always very patiently, for their turn at the feeders and I have trouble keeping them filled.
Young Oriole Eating
Picture of the Day for July 23, 2015
I don’t know what changed this year; whether more of the baby orioles survived or there is a better communication system pointing to the feed lunch but I am having trouble keeping the sugar water feeders and grape jelly can filled. The hummingbirds have to take a number as I have seen three orioles on the sugar water feeder at the same time and more than a half dozen lined up at the jelly, at least until the male Baltimore Oriole shows up. He scares the rest away so he can have it all to himself but the smaller Orchard Oriole male (the dark bird in the picture) has no trouble eating with the other females and youngsters.
Unlike many other fruit-eating birds, Baltimore Orioles seem to prefer only ripe, dark-colored fruit like the deepest-purple grapes and will ignore green grapes and yellow cherries even if they are ripe. I guess that is why they like the grape jelly over other types of jelly. The orioles forage for insects, drink nectar from flowers and eat berries. According to the All About Birds website, Orchard Orioles “sometimes visit hummingbird feeders or eat orange slices or jelly at feeding stations.” Well the sometimes seems to be a constant thing this year with the number of jars of jelly and bags of sugar I have gone through so far this season.
The Grub Line
Watch the video below to see the crowded grub line.