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Baltimore Oriole, female.
I saw my first Baltimore Oriole in 2006, around the middle of May.
I planted several seedling trees the fall before, and marked their
location with yellow surveyor flags. I believe the Oriole was
attracted to the bright coloration of the flags throughout the yard.
I saw an Oriole scouting the yard again this year (spring 2008), and
promptly sent my husband in search of an Oriole nectar/fruit feeder.
A pair fed regularly from the feeder for about a two week period before
moving on.
Central Indiana - May 16, 2008 |
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Baltimore Oriole, female. The female
preferred to eat the orange quarters and ignored the nectar and jelly,
while the male went for the nectar and sampled the grape jelly and
ignored the oranges. I haven't read or heard anything to suggest a
difference between genders in feeding preferences or needs.
They don't rely on fruit/nectar, but will eat insects during breeding
season, and are beneficial predators of tent caterpillars. It is
possible they used the fruit and nectar station so briefly just to
refuel after the long migration to their breeding grounds.
Central Indiana - May 14, 2008 |
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Baltimore Oriole, male. The male came to
the feeder several days before the female joined him, and he always
announced his presence with a song from high in the treetops.
Central Indiana - May 14, 2008 |
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Baltimore Oriole, male.
Central Indiana - May 12, 2008 |
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