Orioles

[buzzsaw]

Our Orange friends need there own thread... heres a few pictures from my backyard.

[fishface5]

Can someone tell me why I'm not seeing Orioles lately? It seems every year in late June, they disapear. They aren't heading south already, are they? I've got a family of Cardinals feeding their youngsters in the back yard. The young ones look alot like female Redwing blackbirds. I never noticed before... (I want a camera!)

[Fowlguy]

Where did u get that feeder COOL

[Steve Foss]

Hey fishface:

It might be that you're seeing migrating birds that are moving around a lot in the spring, and the "disappearance" means you don't have any nesting near you.

[fishface5]

Some might be migrators, but we've got nests dangling in many trees. Do the males get together and go fishing while the hens take care of the house and kids?

[Dotch]

From some reading I did awhile back, their diet this time of year apparently can change from nectar, jelly, orange halves, etc., to mealworms & other insects on the loose especially when feeding their young. Last year I had orioles at the feeder on through August. This year, am seeing the more typical slump in activity noted other years in this part of the state. There's still some nectar being consumed but at a much slower pace. Have only noticed the male at the feeder. Mealworms are likely spendy and the house sparrow population here would likely devour them before the orioles ever got a shot.

[buzzsaw]

Fowlguy, I got the feeder at wild birds unlimited... they have a HSOforum, go check it out at www.wildbirdsunlimited.com I believe.

[CrappieJohn]

For the last few days we have been entertaining four juvenile orioles at our feeders. An orange and four tablespoons of jelly a day now. The jugs gets changed (filled) every other with their nectar.

As in past years, when we get the young ones they are quite tame and will allow us to egt withing six feet or so if we stay quiet. These young'uns will stay now until the parents go south and we can watch the color change as they gradually brighten up.

Orioles are my favorite yard bird, followed by the scarlet tanagers and indigo buntings.