Baltimore Orioles

WINGIN’ IT

By Kate Crowley

When you see a Baltimore oriole, there is no doubt this bird comes from the tropics. But you may be surprised to learn that this beauty is from the same family of birds as grackles, red-winged blackbirds and meadowlarks.  In coloration and nest type it more resembles the Old World Orioles, but genetically, they are not closely related.

Each spring when we see the first Baltimore oriole in our yard, we rush madly for oranges and fruit jelly (grape being the preferred).  Then we quickly slice the oranges and dash outside with it and the jar of jelly to entice the beautiful orange and black birds to stick around. For awhile we even had a special plastic oriole feeder that looked like (sort of) a large orange.  This we filled with sugar water. But even this failed to convince the birds to stay.  Inevitably we went out the next day to collect the orange which was starting to shrivel and the jelly coagulating into a solid mass.  With undimmed hope, we repeated the ritual on May 14^th this year, only this time we saw both the male and female orioles, and they went straight to the oranges! 

The real test was the next day when we saw them again.  We could hardly believe our eyes.  We replenished the oranges as the interiors were consumed. The birds poke their beaks into the exposed segments and with their brush covered tongues they collect the juice.  Day three and they were still coming for oranges and jelly!  We almost feared suggesting it, but maybe this year the pair would find a good nesting spot somewhere in our trees. 

Baltimore orioles spend the winters in Central America and then move in huge numbers to North America in early April and late May.  They are only found east of the Mississippi River, but all the way from the Gulf Coast up into Canada.  They will nest in all of these states. 

We know the orioles have nested in the surrounding area, but for whatever reason our place has never met with their approval.  They require fairly specific trees for their nests, preferring tall deciduous species like cottonwoods, maples and American elms.  We have some maples on our property, but most are back in the woods and the orioles prefer a more open space or near the edge of the woods.  Some years ago we planted two maples in our front yard and the silver has grown very tall, perfect in our opinion, for an oriole nest.  Oh, how we would love to find a tightly woven tube of fibers swaying from an upper branch come fall.

The female chooses the nest site within the male’s territory. We have only seen the one pair, so it would seem she could start picking out the best spot any time now.  The upper most branches of a tall tree are those normally chosen.  The female starts the process by draping long strips of fiber, which can include grass, strips of grapevine bark, and horsehair, as well as any other found items like cellophane, twine, or fishing line. If available they will recycle fibers from an old nest to build a new one.

I received a bunch of shed horsehair from a friend this spring, specifically to put out for the birds.  I have watched chickadees come to the onion bag that I put it in and pluck out a beak-full, and I hope the female oriole saw this handy nest material and added that to her list of pluses for this location. 

Once a collection of fibers have been hung on the branch, the female will begin to poke her beak into it over and over, inadvertently creating knots and weaving the fibers together.  Nest building is a three part process.  First there is the outer shape which must be flexible and provide support. Next the inner bowl is woven with springy fibers.  This helps maintain the bag-like shape of the nest. Finally, she adds feathers and downy feathers to cushion the eggs and young.  An entry hole is created near the top of the nest, two to three inches wide. 

Once the eggs hatch the parents will focus more of their food gathering on insects. The birds will search in and around trees and shrubs, flying out when necessary to grab beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, and flies, and pest species like tent caterpillars, gypsy moth caterpillars and larvae within plant galls. Besides being beautiful, these are very useful birds to have around.  The flip side is that they still love fruits and nectar and will covet and consume your raspberries and other juicy, dark colored fruits, given the chance.

If you have a pair (or more) of orioles nesting nearby, count yourself lucky.  They will add flashes of color and sweet song all summer long.