with the birds i get here it changes with each bird i have. several that want jelly and several only necter and several others the fruit and oranges. I've got three nesting pair of orioles here this spring and they are taking turns visiting the feeders but in a few weeks should have flocks of young fledglings as they usually have 4 or 5 birds in each brood.

I can't wait to see fledglings-I don't know where they are nesting but I hope they bring their babies here to feed. Only thing eating the orange halves are Cat birds.

also had the females here gathering string that I put out for nesting material. Took enough string to build an apartment house LOL.

I am jealous of dklucius! Three pair of Orioles! Jackpot. I THINK I have one pair. He comes several times a day for the grape jelly and completely ignores the oranges and nectar. I have only seen the female once (the other day). I read a very good article on the internet about Orioles nesting habits. After they mate, they change their diet to more insects. Gives them needed protein for feeding the young. Last year I put out mealworms. While I never saw them actually eat the mealworms....they were always gone...so something was eating them. All they seem to want is the grape jelly, period.

I don't know how may pair I have feeding here, they all look alike to me. Hopefully they will come back. I'll put out mealworms too. thank goodness I put the oriole feeder on a pole as I used to have it in a tree and the squirrels would eat both the orange and the jelly. On the pole they don't go to it. I def. have a squirrel problem here-they eat anything, except my plants, thank goodness. Still waiting for the hummers-so far nada.

Are any of you that get orioles living in an urban setting? I live in a small city and have had a feeder out with oranges and jelly for over a month and have never seen an oriole yet. I keep hoping and watching but nothing so far. Do they ever visit the city?

I don't think they frequent city type areas.
" Baltimore orioles are popular spring and summer birds in open deciduous forests and riparian areas in the eastern United States as well as in suburban parks and backyards."

Well, when I say, "city", it's not like a huge concrete jumgle. I live in a small prairie city with lots of trees, parks, etc. It's probably more suburban than urban. It just seems they frequent yards that are out in the country (acreage type yards) with houses miles apart. We get orioles in this area; I just can't seem to entice them into my back yard.

I live in a western Chicago suburb that has very tall old maple trees. The houses are on 1/2 acre plots (although mine is on an acre). My first attempt at attracting them was last year, and I luckily had success. I put out the grape jelly, orange pieces, and a nectar feeder. I read somewhere they are attracted to the color orange. My feeder is in the middle of my back yard in the open area on a pole (with a squirrel shield), and it is orange. I was overjoyed when I had success again this year. But, I think I only have one pair this year, and so far I have only seen the female once. The male comes to the feeder several times a day, and he only eats the jelly. Even so, I keep refreshing the nectar and orange pieces. I think they come less and less to the feeder once all their favorite flowers bloom. And as I stated in a previous e/mail, the internet says once they mate they start eating more insects for the protein. It does seem that his visits to the jelly have lessened now. Hope you get them soon. They are the most beautiful birds that visit me (along with the Cardinals).

what type of feeder is it? Is it a bright color, because I notice they seem to be drawn by bright colors and lots of trees.