Bullocks use the green fake grass that you find in Easter Baskets, but I don't know about Baltimore's. we see that nearly every year here in CA.

Yesterday, I observed a female trying to tug individual strands of binder twine loose. After she left, I went and cut off pieces to make her job easier, and she came back all afternoon. She prefered the bright yellow plastic twine over hemp.

Great feed back,..thank you!
How long did you cut these plastic twines?...can you post a link to what they look like?

The ones she was pulling out looked to be about 6-8 inches, and she favored the colored plastic over the natural. The ones I cut were roughly 6 inches, and she took every last one. I apologize for living in another century, but I don't have a digital camera. Actually, my wife replaced my old flip phone (cameraless) yesterday with a new smart phone, so I guess it's time I learn. I really do appreciate all the great photography on here, and it's perhaps time for me to contribute.

Just an observation, but the Oriole's didn't use some Purple grass that I experimented with once.

OK thanks!
>>and she favored the colored plastic over the naturalThen I like to ask, what color and how thick are these?
I don't think the Oriols are here yet, but I have put out some orange and jelly.
Also a bunch of older used orange bale twine in various lengts,...would this be too heavy or should I pull them strands appart?

I think you probably should separate the strands into random lengths and thicknesses. Then again, she may want to do that herself. At least loosen them. As for color, she sought out the yellow binder twine. I have a lot of yellow plastic binder twine leftover from when my farm was hayed. I just cut it and shredded off some relatively small strands and placed it back where she had been working on it. I haven't seen her since, but now I'm seeing lots of males.

I'll be putting out my jelly jars tonight. I'm experimenting w/orange marmalade (because we have a lot of it left over) and the traditional grape. I've not had any come to the halved oranges at all. I understand catbirds also come to jelly. We have a few in our fencerow and thicker woods but have never drawn them into our more open feeding area. Hopefully, we can lure them in as well as I love all their unique calls.

Thanks Brook!
Yes,..one's you know the male calls you'll know,...just havn't heard it yet.
The grape jelly I usually put on top of the orange half a little,..not much orange gets eaten but over time they eat out most. I think the yellow/orange get's their attention,..could be that it's their favored color and like grabing the yellow twine over anything else.

Well..my twine is not yellow, more like orange or red,..take it or leave it, LOL.

The Males are always ahead of the Females by a couple of weeks to select an area I think.

When my kids were small they got their kite string hopelessly tangled up in our hedge. We cut the string to free the kite. Later that day a Baltimore Oriole was tugging at the string but couldnâÂÂt collect any. I took scissors and snipped the string into small pieces. The Oriole eventually carried it all away. Somewhere that summer there was an Oriole nest made with good stout kite string.

Bob

Thanks Bod for this story!
I might be missing out this year with them,..nothing had showed up so far.