Ron and Anne: Thanks for your responses. I still have not decided upon which fruit feeder to purchase/use, but would like to attrack the Orioles to the garden and so I might purchase the hanging fruit feeder by Droll Yankees, just to see how they respond. Or I might hang an Oriole (liquid) feeder and see what happens as well. Anne: I took a look at "your page" and saw that you grow a lot of roses. Perhaps, Sue and I can come up for a short visit sometime early this summer when they are in bloom. Our garden project is just beginning to emerge from a weed patch into something recognizable. ;>) By the way, years ago when I was living in central Illinois - Peoria specifically, where I grew "Hawkeye Belle" among other roses - I and another fellow rose gardener from Iowa traveled to Iowa State University in Ames and briefly met with Dr. Buck at his demonstration gardens. While we were chatting, Dr. Buck told us a short story of some "older" ladies disparaging the "fact" that such a lovely rose had a terrible name. The rose in question was, of course, "Hawkeye Belle", but they, according to Dr. Buck, kept on pronouncing it as "Hawkeye Belly". No wonder. Again, thanks for your responses. Bill & Sue

Unlike the Hourglass shaped with 4 flowers and very large Bee Guards (I think it is a PP), the Hummzinger Fancies seems to have a learning curve. Not only a learning curve, but also I think they have problem seeing and finding the feeding ports. Otherwise there is no reason for hungry birds to come check it very up close and hover right above it and not feed from it. I cut out a couple of yellow flowers and stuck them on top of the feeding ports with scotch tape and guess what? it worked immediately. now, when the regulars check it out, they go to the two ports with yellow paper flowers. But there seem to be quite a lot of hummers in my area and I would like to get all the fly byers. the old feeder did this but I am not sure about the Hummzinger Fancies. I am new at this and have not had the bee problem yet. so I am thinking of painting the flowers yellow with food coloring or something else that is safe and does not smell.

Glad you have new birds. I am in the east an have Baltimore Orioles, Grosbeaks and Hummers and love them all. One thing I'd like to tell you that you may not be aware of is that nine days is a very long time to leave a nectar feeder filled. They need to be cleaned a minimum of once a week in cool weather to every couple of days in hot weather. Black mold and fungus' form easy in the sugar water which is not good for the birds. Hummers can contract bill rot from dirty feeders and it is fatal for them. Wash them out is hot soapy water with a toothbrush and refill. Yes the same birds will return nest year if they like it there. In my yard they feed really heavy now but much less when the wild berries and friuts come out until right before migration. Happy birding. Cathy

i assume that yours are baltimore Orioles? due mostly by location. I live in Southwest Colorado and have nesting pairs of Bullocks Orioles here every year from early spring thru as late as late august. they show up from april thru early may and nest soon after. and by mid June to late june bring their young to my feeders. By late july or early august the males start leaving first and then the females from early august to late august The juveniles also leave about the same times as the females. I had over a dozen different birds this year and now have none for last week. so far the return again the following spring.