Simply For The Birds

If nesting material is available Orioles will start building pendulous nests. Offering long strips of twine or horse hair will help encourage Orioles to nest near you.  It can take a female 5-8 days to build a nest that could measure up to 8 inches in length! Females lay 4-5 pale gray to bluish eggs that will hatch in 12-14 days after the mother has incubated them.  The father helps the mother feed them and in 12-14 days the babies will begin to leave the nest.  Look for the nests in branches that hang over open areas such as streams or open roads.

Having an Oriole bird feeder nearby will greatly increase your chances of getting the birds to nest near you.  Provide them with cut up oranges, jelly feeders or a bright orange nectar feeders.

You can look for Orioles to arrive early spring to May depending where you are located in the continental United States.  It is important to have Oriole feeders out before the Orioles come.  That way they won’t pass you by looking for better feeding places. Orioles begin their migration south, to Central and South America by the end of summer.  Be ready, so you don’t miss out on attracting these beautifully colored black and orange or yellow plumed backyard birds, since we don’t have them for long.

Orioles love cut up oranges, jelly and Oriole nectar.  There are many types of Oriole bird feeders that are available to help you provide just what the Orioles are looking for.  The commercial nectars that are available seem to attract and keep the Orioles at the feeder longer, but you can also mix sugar nectar like you do for hummingbirds.  Grape jelly seems to be the favorite choice, but don’t be afraid to try others.  If you use a jelly feeder, don’t be surprised to also see Woodpeckers, Robins and Warblers partaking of the sweet substance!

The key is to have your feeders out before they come or you will miss them…