It's May, and during May we watch for a host of birds which visit our yard for only a short period of time. Generally we are on the look out for Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Thrushes, Flycatchers, and Orioles. At the end of April, I hang our Oriole feeder which contains nectar, grape jelly and orange wedges. This year to our surprise we attracted two Orioles for the price of one.
This year the Grosbeaks arrived about the same time as the Baltimore Orioles, I think they were greeting each other and talking shop.
The feeder drew in the usual suspects first. The Baltimore Orioles arrived at the feeder on May 2 and have visited the yard everyday since. We've seen both male and female birds. The males are dark black with a neon orange underside. They often whistle for awhile up in the trees or on the phone line before coming down for a treat. The female birds seem to arrive later and come to the feeder less often; they are a yellowish orange with a grayish back and wings.
The male Orchard Oriole was squabbling with a female Baltimore.
This year, we also managed to attract a pair of Orchard Orioles. They arrived on May 12. They seem to be little smaller than the Baltimore Orioles and a bit more skittish. The male is primarily black with a bold chestnut red underside. The female looks a lot like the Baltimore females but is more yellow, almost softer in color.
Both species seem particularly interested in the jelly, which we bought on the cheap. It's generic grape from a squeeze bottle. Having used a jar and spoon in the past, I'd strongly recommend squeeze bottle, it's so much easier to fill the hanging feeder. They have also really gone through the orange wedges, but neither species seems particular interested in the nectar unless both the oranges and the jelly are gone.
Are you seeing Orioles in your neck of the woods?
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