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Oriole south migration underway

14 years ago

I was looking out my window this morning and saw a female oriole land on the shepherd hook where the orange/jelly feeder is hanging. Unfortunately, I had not yet refilled the empty jelly trays so it flew off. This is the first oriole I've seen in two months.

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Comments (10)

rachel_frome_ky
14 years ago
Cool! Maybe I'd better refill mine as well!
donald lucius
14 years ago
I,m in southwest Colorado and the nights are getting cool.
I had three nesting pairs of Bullocks Orioles. After the young got big enough i had also eleven young orioles. The adult males left first. and in this last week all but 5 of the others are gone too.
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I actually did some research on this one because I grew up in the DC area and have a pair of these periodically in my yard in Miami. I decided that I had a pair of lost Baltimore Orioles. I actually contacted a university researcher about them. She was very nice, was researching the changing migratory patterns of Baltimore Orioles. And she told me exactly what Marcia said: there's a spotted-breasted oriole originally from Mexico. It was brought here as a pet because it's such a pretty bird and has a sweet song. And then it was released/escaped. They thought the naturalized/feral population was wiped out in Hurricane Andrew. But they discovered that wasn't true several years ago and they seem to be coming back in South Florida. I would prefer my yard be populated with native birds, but I love this one too. My pair (I hope they come back, haven't seen them yet this year) is so cute flitting around in the trees, always close to each other and calling back and forth, as if they're checking on each other to see if they're okay. Look around and see if yours has a mate somewhere nearby. I can't tell which one is the male, but one of my two is always hidden and hard to find, but is talking to the other one. And like Marcia, I don't think they actually migrate north-and-south. I think there are just times of year when they like my yard and hang out for awhile. Though I've always seen them as a pair, I've never seen a nest. From what I have been able to tell, the one that I assume is the female doesn't talk as much, but responds to the one I assume is the male. Susannah
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Our First Ever Hummingbird. On the way to the Kitchen tonight I saw a tiny bird fly in and land on our hummingbird feeder. About the only detail I saw looked like a flash of yellow. As I crept closer to the French doors that open onto the deck, the tiny thing saw me and darted away. Wings were a blur but it could certainly move fast. I suspect that it will get used to us eventually. We had figured they hadn't found us yet but there it was. I should have changed the food two days ago so I got out there right away and change it out for some fresh food. At least the food is no longer just going to waste as we empty it out. But it was quite exciting to get our very first ever hummingbird. The feeder was a bit low on solution, too so I think that perhaps they have been working on it for a few days and we didn't realize it. It's cleaned out and fresh now so I'll be tracking it over the next few days to see if they drain it down. At some point I'll set up a film camera on a tripod with a remote release and try to get a close up photograph of one on the feeder.
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Claire is correct - it's the timing. Excerpt from hummingbirds.net "Where did my hummers go? You watched the migration maps and hung your feeder in time to attract the first migrants. You kept the feeder clean and the syrup fresh, and were rewarded by lots of visits from migrants, then the activity settled down to regular appearances by the resident birds. Pretty cool hobby, eh? Then, perhaps in early May (depending on your latitude)... NO MORE HUMMERS! Where'd they all go? This didn't happen last year! Or did it? Welcome to the nesting season, folks. I'll discuss Ruby-throats in particular, but similar principles probably apply to most other species. Shortly after arriving, the females establish a nesting territory. Ruby-throats prefer secluded wetlands for nesting, if available, and proximity to your feeder is not an issue; in fact, females don't like to build nests in a male's feeding territory, and your feeder is probably part of one. Visits to distant feeders take too much time away from the eggs. When the chicks hatch, they need protein to grow, not sugar, so their mother spends most of her time catching small insects and spiders for them. During this period, I personally still see a male or two at my feeders, but typically only early or late in the day. I suspect that once their breeding duties are over, males tend to abandon territories and forage more widely to fatten up for migration. After the chicks fledge (leave the nest), expect the number of hummers at your feeder to be double what it was before the "disappearance." As summer progresses, there will be fewer natural hummingbird food sources available in many parts of the continent; feeders can have a real positive impact on the number of birds that survive, especially in the dry Midwestern U.S., so please keep them clean and fresh. And keep notes on your tiny visitors, if you like, so you can verify for yourself that this is a normal, annual process." I checked my photo library and all of my backyard hummers were photographed in July, August, and Sept. Been a long spring. Thank you, Claire. Kindly, Jane Here is a link that might be useful: hummingbirds.net
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Hi Claire...Great shots of those Hummers! At last they have arrived...whew! It looks like you have some tired but happy Hummers. I counted Herring this morning. I saw 8 during my 10 minute count time. The sun was bright, water was clear and the gulls were happy. We have found that Herring like to run when the water temps reach 13C. Last year we recorded the largest number of Herring making the final run into the Mill Pond between May 11th & 18th. Interesting little tid-bit...when the adult Herring return to the sea, they do so tail first...facing upstream. They allow themselves to be swept backwards with the current. In 2003 the herring run in Bournedale River in Buzzards Bay numbered approximately 200,000 herring. The herring in that run are/were counted using an electronic counting tube...a camera. I find it all very interesting. I need to get out and walk around the yard today. If the Hummers are here, I should find a lot of new growth, buds and hope for color to come...or not. I've seen some hanging baskets of impatients on houses already. It seems a little early to see such color. Nice, but early. Our nights are still cold. Soon it will be time to get my house plants outside...the start of summer camp. sooey
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boston_ma_02125
14 years ago
Folks if you like orioles, enjoy gardening and have the space I have a truly cool tip: plant a grape arbor. I live in Boston near downtown and have always enjoyed gardening. Living in the city, seeing orioles was a rare treat... but not any more. Three years ago I planted a concord grape and trained it up to cover our 2nd story deck. The number of birds attracted has risen exponentially of these three years. Seeing ten orioles at a time is now pretty common. Also attracted are cardinals, jays, and catbirds. There are so many birds out there right now that there probably won't be enough grapes to make jam once they fully ripen. Do I mind, not at all
rachel_frome_ky
14 years ago
Wow! Another tip I'm going to follow, if possible! I wonder if I can grow grapes in Albuquerque (still hoping to move there next yr)?
builder24car
14 years ago
I've been trying to get an Oriole for years. I took this pic last week thinking it was an immature robin. I posted it on another board and two people told me it was an immature Baltimore Oriole! I want a bird and when I finally see it I don't even know what it looks like! I suck as a birder. *sigh* At least it's a lifer for me. :)
hawkeye_wx
Original Author
14 years ago
The one female oriole stayed for a couple weeks, but I have not seen another.
dzyg
14 years ago
So far ours here in WI are still around eating the jelly but it won't be long now. I think our hummers left though. =(

Donna
donald lucius
14 years ago
the last of my orioles left out yesterday. I had three nesting pairs of bullocks orioles and got 11 young ones
the male adults left over a month ago and since then the others are leaving in small groups. The last two did not show up today at all so i assume they left yesterday.
I expermented this year with a variety of fruits and they ate most anything i put out, One loved watermelon and they all liked apricots and cherrys, a couple drank orange juice from a lid everyday and a couple even ate plums.
Cantalope was not a big treat for them.
hawkeye_wx
Original Author
14 years ago
A male baltimore oriole came to my yard this afternoon. It has been back for grape jelly twice. I sure with I had more of these beautiful birds during spring/summer. With a little luck maybe he'll stay for a couple days. Most of my orioles in spring were one and done.

Hawkeye
East-central Iowa
beckyw
14 years ago
Here is a pic of Mr and Mrs on their way south.
From 2009-09-07 yard

We got these HB feeders this year and the orioles loved them. It was the first year we had some stay and nest. We had at least 2 nests nearby. After they raised the babies they disappeared for a few weeks. But when they started south we had them on the feeders several times a day. We haven't seem any for a few days now but for awhile they hit it heavy. The feeders are made by First Nature and we got ours at Walmart for $3.88. They come completely apart for easy cleanup and have a wide mouth on the jar part so they wash easily.

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