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| Attracting Orioles |
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| Trying to attract these fabulous birds to your backyard is an absolute must in Minnesota. Baltimore Orioles love
our tall mature trees and residential neighborhoods. Orioles arrive about the first of May. We like to have our feeders ready and out about the
3rd week of April. Timing may make a difference.
Orioles winter in Florida, the Caribbean, Central Mexico and Central America to northern South America and are called Neo-tropical birds.
On average, an oriole probably travels about 150 miles each night, flying at about 20 miles per hour. If the weather is good, and they do
not stop for long, it would take an oriole about 2-3 weeks to complete its migration, depending on where it started from in the fall, or
where it is going in the spring. They migrate at night and are tired, hungry and often cold when they arrive after their long trip. The
male arrives first and will immediately set up a territory, which can be the same as last year and may build their nest in the same tree.
You can usually hear their “Weeet“ call, which is a single, upward-slurred, flute-like whistle, consisting of 4–8 notes right before they
are seen. They seem to announce their presence first. The female will usually arrive a few days after the male.
Orioles weave a pendulous nest that hangs off thin branches 25-30’ off the ground, usually in the tallest deciduous tree. Put out nesting
materials such as string, rope fibers, yarn, no longer than 6” in length, also hair, feathers or pre-packaged nesting materials available
at Cardinal Corner. A metal suet cage is a great nesting material holder. Do not use dryer lint, for rain does not drain through it and the
young may drown. Orioles have one brood per year consisting of 4-5 eggs, incubating them for about 12-14 days. She tends to the young for
about 2 weeks. Both birds will protect the nest.
You can have great success offering nectar, orange halves, grape jelly and fruit flavored commercial suet. Offer other fruits such as; chopped
pears, chopped apples, or sliced bananas. These can be offered in a platform feeder or a suet feeder. Cardinal Corner carries a variety of
hanging fruit and jelly feeders as a way to offer these snacks, plus nectar feeders designed for Baltimore Orioles. Place your feeders in
a visible place– hanging from a tree or pole. Putting the feeder in the shade helps the nectar to stay fresher longer.
Orioles may taper off in mid-June for a few weeks during the nesting season, but keep putting out food, for they should return with their
young to the feeders.
Orioles will also eat mealworms. Last year, our customers with the best luck keeping orioles coming to their feeders and staying the latest
in the year were faithful feeding mealworms. They need the protein during and after nesting. As with hummingbirds, always keep your food
fresh and clean. Change the nectar every few days. Clean feeders and fresh nectar are very important! Wash feeders in hot soapy water. You can
make your own nectar or Cardinal Corner carries an orange-flavored nectar, which we feel increases your chances of attracting orioles. Orioles
will sometimes frequent a hummingbird feeder but with difficulty. Oriole feeders have larger perches and do not have the standard bee guards,
orioles are known to pull the bee guards off hummingbird feeders. A hummingbird will have no difficulty using a oriole feeder. Listen, watch
and enjoy the return of these beautiful birds.
Seeing your first oriole will be well worth your time and effort.
Listen to an oriole song at: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Baltimore_Oriole.html
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