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Oriole south migration underway

17 years ago

I was looking out my window this morning and saw a female oriole land on the shepherd hook where the orange/jelly feeder is hanging. Unfortunately, I had not yet refilled the empty jelly trays so it flew off. This is the first oriole I've seen in two months.

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Comments (10)

rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
Cool! Maybe I'd better refill mine as well!
donald lucius
17 years ago
I,m in southwest Colorado and the nights are getting cool.
I had three nesting pairs of Bullocks Orioles. After the young got big enough i had also eleven young orioles. The adult males left first. and in this last week all but 5 of the others are gone too.
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I actually did some research on this one because I grew up in the DC area and have a pair of these periodically in my yard in Miami. I decided that I had a pair of lost Baltimore Orioles. I actually contacted a university researcher about them. She was very nice, was researching the changing migratory patterns of Baltimore Orioles. And she told me exactly what Marcia said: there's a spotted-breasted oriole originally from Mexico. It was brought here as a pet because it's such a pretty bird and has a sweet song. And then it was released/escaped. They thought the naturalized/feral population was wiped out in Hurricane Andrew. But they discovered that wasn't true several years ago and they seem to be coming back in South Florida. I would prefer my yard be populated with native birds, but I love this one too. My pair (I hope they come back, haven't seen them yet this year) is so cute flitting around in the trees, always close to each other and calling back and forth, as if they're checking on each other to see if they're okay. Look around and see if yours has a mate somewhere nearby. I can't tell which one is the male, but one of my two is always hidden and hard to find, but is talking to the other one. And like Marcia, I don't think they actually migrate north-and-south. I think there are just times of year when they like my yard and hang out for awhile. Though I've always seen them as a pair, I've never seen a nest. From what I have been able to tell, the one that I assume is the female doesn't talk as much, but responds to the one I assume is the male. Susannah
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My hummers disappeared for a while, presumably nesting and concentrating on insects for the babies, although they may also have been nectaring on the rhododendron mountains up the street. Now they're back, and I see them every day at the feeder. They don't stay at the feeder for long, they just take a few sips and zip off to the flowers. The meadow phlox are blooming now and the hummers love them. Re orioles: There are myriad ways of feeding oranges and jelly; you can buy fancy feeders but they're not necessary. One easy way is to hang an orange half from a hook, or impale it on a stick. The bird will eat out the orange flesh, then you can fill the empty rind with grape or other jelly. You can also put jelly in a bowl on a deck railing. I've put orange slices in a wire suet feeder and the orioles were happy. Catbirds like the oranges and jelly too. I have photos of different methods I've tried, but I'm hesitant to slow up this thread. Claire
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pd728: I would (and I will) leave the feeders up until at least the end of September, and probably until close to frost. I'm still seeing hummers but when that's rare I'll take in the feeder from the deck and leave the feeder up in the front yard. The deck feeder will come in because the raccoons empty it every night and I have to refill it every morning. The front yard feeder only needs to be refilled every four or five days, depending on the weather. Claire edit note: I just saw this site The amazing tongue of the hummingbird
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boston_ma_02125
17 years ago
Folks if you like orioles, enjoy gardening and have the space I have a truly cool tip: plant a grape arbor. I live in Boston near downtown and have always enjoyed gardening. Living in the city, seeing orioles was a rare treat... but not any more. Three years ago I planted a concord grape and trained it up to cover our 2nd story deck. The number of birds attracted has risen exponentially of these three years. Seeing ten orioles at a time is now pretty common. Also attracted are cardinals, jays, and catbirds. There are so many birds out there right now that there probably won't be enough grapes to make jam once they fully ripen. Do I mind, not at all
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
Wow! Another tip I'm going to follow, if possible! I wonder if I can grow grapes in Albuquerque (still hoping to move there next yr)?
builder24car
17 years ago
I've been trying to get an Oriole for years. I took this pic last week thinking it was an immature robin. I posted it on another board and two people told me it was an immature Baltimore Oriole! I want a bird and when I finally see it I don't even know what it looks like! I suck as a birder. *sigh* At least it's a lifer for me. :)
hawkeye_wx
Original Author
17 years ago
The one female oriole stayed for a couple weeks, but I have not seen another.
dzyg
17 years ago
So far ours here in WI are still around eating the jelly but it won't be long now. I think our hummers left though. =(

Donna
donald lucius
17 years ago
the last of my orioles left out yesterday. I had three nesting pairs of bullocks orioles and got 11 young ones
the male adults left over a month ago and since then the others are leaving in small groups. The last two did not show up today at all so i assume they left yesterday.
I expermented this year with a variety of fruits and they ate most anything i put out, One loved watermelon and they all liked apricots and cherrys, a couple drank orange juice from a lid everyday and a couple even ate plums.
Cantalope was not a big treat for them.
hawkeye_wx
Original Author
17 years ago
A male baltimore oriole came to my yard this afternoon. It has been back for grape jelly twice. I sure with I had more of these beautiful birds during spring/summer. With a little luck maybe he'll stay for a couple days. Most of my orioles in spring were one and done.

Hawkeye
East-central Iowa
beckyw
17 years ago
Here is a pic of Mr and Mrs on their way south.
From 2009-09-07 yard

We got these HB feeders this year and the orioles loved them. It was the first year we had some stay and nest. We had at least 2 nests nearby. After they raised the babies they disappeared for a few weeks. But when they started south we had them on the feeders several times a day. We haven't seem any for a few days now but for awhile they hit it heavy. The feeders are made by First Nature and we got ours at Walmart for $3.88. They come completely apart for easy cleanup and have a wide mouth on the jar part so they wash easily.

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