Orioles Returned Today

12 years ago

Mercer Co. IL

Saw them all day. Was so happy.

After watching the first one land on the jelly feeder I watched one in the woods jump from branch to branch and, relax. Soon it was pure mayhem and they were even on my birdfeeder and one stopped for suet at least twice that I saw.

Dax

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Comments (10)

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
12 years ago
How wonderful, Dax! They still haven't arrived here, but I have an oriole feeder up with suet for now and I'll change to jelly when they come.

Claire
gardener365
Original Author
12 years ago
Claire,

I just can't believe how things happen! You may recall a few years ago I put up 2 jelly feeders and within a 2 minutes I had 4 orioles at it... I didn't even know they were around my parts!!!

Today, an oriole swooped down to the jelly feeder and all at once I saw a red-headed woodpecker fly across the landscape and a hummingbird. "Three" firsts of the year. Incredible really!

Dax
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Mimilm - I only get the Baltimore Orioles for about a month before they head north, but I continue to have Orchard Orioles coming to my backyard throughout the Spring and Summer months. I've had great success by just putting a bowl with grape jelly or blackberry preserves on the railing of my deck. "My" Downy and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers like the jelly/preserves too! And for a special treat, I put fresh grapes in a suet feeder that I've enlarged by pulling the sides out some. Lots of different birds just love the fresh grapes! Kat_in_KS
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You are very fortunate, Eric580. I have to "work" very hard to keep them coming to my feeder. I put out organge pieces, grape jelly, nectar, and meal worms. You have their natural diet right on a bush in your yard! Enjoy. Barb
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I wanted to photograph that guy because I was so surprised to see him but the racoons had dug into my potted plants the night prior... and I was on a whim to grab my camera and shoot with potting mix all over my deck. He's been returning every day so yesterday I scooped more grape jelly into the feeders for him. In fact he's here right now! Dax
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orioles usually return to the area they were born in. they winter in old mexico and central america and some in florida and the islands. just guessing that they would be returning again in mid to late April to your area either to nest or to fill up before they migrate further north. they are probably eating at your place to fill up before they head further south. the ones i get here eat the jelly and necter best but some really get after oranges or orange juice and a couple like watermelon or diced fruit pieces.
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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
12 years ago
Good news. That big low pressure should move a number of birds north this week.

tj
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
12 years ago
I saw the first Baltimore Orioles of the season today here in Plymouth, MA! and it's before the hummingbirds show up - usually the orioles come a little after the hummers.

The grackles had gobbled up most of the suet outside and the orioles were picking at the scraps. I raced out and put new suet in all of the cages and added some apricot preserves in a dish. This one came back but didn't seem too impressed with the new suet.

He did seem to be looking down at the preserves in the dish in the middle of the feeder.

When they start showing interest in the fruit I'll phase out the suet in those cages to discourage the grackles. I have another suet feeder up in another area.

I also have a jelly feeder like Dax's and I may put that out too, but I have to rearrange the feeders on the hooks first.

Claire
catherinet
12 years ago
I'm "jelly" (jealous)........
haha

Question about the jelly.....I have tried to find a large jar of grape jelly that doesn't have high fructose corn syrup in it. I ended up buying a smaller jar of "all fruit"-type jelly without it.
anyone know who might sell a big jar of the stuff without corn syrup? Thanks.

P.S....Great pics everyone! Those guys are gorgeous!
gardener365
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes, those are beautiful pictures, Claire.

Welch's is the only one I know of where grapes are the 1st ingredient. I meant to look at Sam's Club on Friday and didn't, darnit.

Another first & just now 7:45 this morning: Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Dax
gardener365
Original Author
12 years ago
Saw brown thrasher a few days ago.

Dax
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
12 years ago
No grosbeaks here, I've only ever seen one, but the first Brown Thrasher appeared on April 20. I haven't seen it since, but they're usually around all season, just in the background.

Claire
catherinet
12 years ago
I love it when the brown thrashers come back. To me, their song is so happy! I have to smile every time I hear them........which can be constantly, sometimes. :)
brookw_gw
12 years ago
We had the best birding weekend so far. Lots of grosbeaks, hummers, and male and female orioles. Don't know why but we can't get the orioles to come to feeders. We had success one year w/jelly filled orange halves, but they refuse to come to the regular oriole feeders or the jelly feeders. I keep trying though. One bird we didn't see this year was woodcock. Every year, they raise a brood in our swampy creek bottom. We have resident red foxes now, so I wonder if that's the difference. Still, we have always been rich w/all other predators: coons, coyotes, mink, and even bobcats. It hasn't affected the wild turkeys though as we have a good nest w/eight eggs in it.