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Attention..All Oriole Experts

14 years ago

Need to ask a question. I live in NW GA, which is shown to be in the Baltimore's summer breeding range on the maps I have seen. Oddly, I have never in my entire life laid eyes upon an Oriole.....until 9/3/11 that is!! A male showed up in my yard and was feeding at my Hummingbird feeders. Of course, I rushed out with cut oranges and grape jelly for him. Four days later, what I believe to be (you can have a look) an adult female also showed up at the feeders. I was overjoyed!! They have been here since then, coming off and on during the day to drink nectar and eat jelly. My question is this: Now that some Orioles have found my yard and learned that there are food sources here, will they likely return to my yard in the future? Would they perhaps come back through during spring migration, and when would that be for me? Thanks in advance for any help.~~Angie

Him

Her

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Comments (7)

donald lucius
14 years ago
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.
Konrad___far_north
14 years ago
I believe you'll see them around next year too...this was my experience with my handouts, started about 5 years ago.
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Actually I have baffles on every feeder, but since this is a white spruce tree, there are so many thick intertwined branches they simply jump from branch to feeder to feeder. They don't just jump down on the feeders - they jump up from below the feeder or side to side. Busy little guys. The baffles do keep the bird droppings off the feeders, and that's a good thing. Our town has been over run with grey squirrels. Cute? Within reason, yes. When they cause several thousand dollars of damage to various homes, eat wiring out of cars, etc. they have to be controlled, just like any other pest. Our city inspectors have been trapping to thin them down to healthier number and many people, including me, help. Shelia; you're sweet! But when I have to pull out a rifle, it's the .22. Fried squirrel and gravy, anyone? Squirrel and dumplings? Morz8, I hope you do find some time to just sit and enjoy the outdoors. Yes, hummingbirds are absolutely vicious with one another. I have six feeders spread over three yards to lessen the fighting. I have good neighbors that let me put feeders and/or nest boxes in their yards, too. SheliaJoyce - The nearby nesting crows have eaten most of the neighborhood's robin nestlings this year. But the crows do help to keep the Cooper's hawks away from the Purple Martin colony. Garzania - I'd love to have you visit and share the birds and blooms in my tiny corner of the prairie!
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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
14 years ago
They may be breeding in your area but never saw a reason to come to your yard before.

My experience is like Konrad's: I first saw orioles at my hummingbird feeder about five years ago but didn't see them again that year. The next year I put out jelly for them and they stayed around. I think they nest down by the pond about a half mile away, so they fly up here, with the youngsters, for their fruit snack.

Claire
lisa11310
14 years ago
Ours left West Michigan about a week ago. I have that exact same feeder so maybe you have my birds there! ;) I enlarged one of the holes on my feeder for them.
donald lucius
14 years ago
like Lisa i enlarged the holes in my hummingbird feeders just took a drill and made a bigger hole both my hummers and orioles share the feeders and every bird is different.
some of the hummers like the oriole feeders and some of the orioles prefer the hummingbird feeders. I only have one female oriole still hanging around and two hummers.
the rest have headed south. but some years i get migrants coming thru and feed for a day or two before they leave too.
bandjzmom
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks guys for the thoughts. I so enjoyed seeing them here. They seem to have moved on now. I just wonder about when I would need to get something out for them in the spring. I will do some research and try to figure it out. Really awesome birds for sure!!! Angie
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
14 years ago
Around here the orioles appear within a few days of the first hummingbirds. If you keep an eye on the Hummingbird Migration Maps next spring, it may give you an idea of timing. You can also check previous years' maps on that site now to see when the first siting was for several years.

Claire

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