Oriole Feeder Questions

Does anyone put one up and if so when do you put it out?? I am keeping an eye on the migration map but that is dependent on people reporting sightings.

I got one to put out this year, but never have before. Any tips on where placement is best? Are they shy birds? I read that it should be away from seed feeders. I will be putting out oranges and grape jelly too. I even bought some Welch's for them. I eat the cheap store stuff! LOL

Hi nanny, Theres a link for oriole migration in the Sticky, put it up 2 weeks before you think they'll arrive.

Okay, that's the one I have been watching... so 2 weeks before...will do! Thanks, pelle!

I'm watching for the orioles too!

Here's the map for first oriole sighted but I can't tell what year they are talking about!

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/current_spring.html?layers=oriole_sighted

And an interesting thread about putting out grape jelly and different sorts of attractants

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/468489/

Thats why I said go earlier because I'm not sure whats going on w/ that map.

Looks like their time for me is end of April.

Tabasco, when you click on one of the pink dots (with the "information" tool), then you can see the date of the sighting.

Thank you Mrs Ed!

I'm wondering when their going to update the map. Maybe when they really start migrating.

i saw some things that had 3/11 dates. I suppose it's just who's posting. Looks like the sand hill cranes have arrived in Wisconsin.

JANUARY sightings east of you in Pennsylvania!

oops, wrong capture.

Ah, now I see. Some might say Journey North's site is a bit complex.

'Cincinnati Birding' site says our orioles will arrive here around the third week of April. But I saw one last year at the end of March in our yard.

I'm going to put my orange 'stuff' out next week, I think.

Glad I' not the only one that is a little puzzled!! lol

I couldn't figure out the dang thing! Tab...I'm putting my Oriole feeder and stuff out next week too. I get an update from MoBirders and no one has mentioned the Orioles but most of the sightings are from St. Louis which is way north of us so the info is after the fact for our location.

Mostly it's just annoying because I forget to have the right tool chosen before clicking on the map!!! Once you get zoomed in on your area though, switch to the info tool then you can change the drop-down lists and check out all the new sightings. First Earthworm even! You gotta love school kids.

Our Oriles did not show up last year until well into May.
I put grape jelly out for the first time and they loved it, letting the oranges go.
I did want to add that we had 3 sandhill cranes here on Tuesday of this week. I was shocked to see them.

That would be exciting cpart!! They are so beautiful!

We only see them as they go through. Seems they stay in farmer's fields and the dry land, as DH will see them on his way to work.

There is a small strip of the river melting into the lake and they were wading and picking around with the ducks and geese.

I usually hear them before I see them, but this group was quiet.

We had a of Sandhill;s flock fly over weenkend before last. I love that sound they make!

Me too!

I saw one today, but alas, no photo.

I went to my first Wild Birds Unlimited today and got a new Oriole feeder that is too cool with the little cups for the jelly. I also got two of the hummingbird feeders that don't have a top but have an ant well. Also got a water wiggler for the bird bath, the Stokes Field Guide (I love it) and a new book "Captivating Bluebirds" that has great pics of BB and lots of info. I will take a pic of everything tomorrow (when DH ain't around) LOL!! Don't want to get the "eyeballs rolling back in the head look"! LOL! It was my first time at WBU and I loved it!!

HAAAAAAAA,. Yah, just go out and photograph them next to his tractors. LOL.

LOL Mrs. Ed...hadn't thought of that!!

That place is like a candy store to me!! I finally talked to the manager of mine. They are not hiring right now, but he did give me an application to fill out. I spent about 30 minutes talking to him! I do have the gift of gab...which is a plus for that place. :)

Can't wait to see all you goodies. I want a really nice Bird Guide. But, my little Birds of Indiana that I got awhile back has come in handy...and not too overwhelming since it only has a little over 100 birds in it.

Now, should we place our Oriole feeders away from other feeders including the hummingbird's? Or does it not matter?

I had mine about 20 feet from the other bird feeders, but about 5 feet from a humming bird feeder. All feeders were very active.

I didn't even think about the location. I just put them up where I could watch.

Working at that bird store would be like a kid in a candy shop. REAL TROUBLE. Unless you do not care if you owe money at the end of the week instead of getting a paycheck.

I didn't feed the Orioles last year as I wasn't a "birder". I noticed them though because they broke the blown glass hummer feeder DH had given me!! This year they will have their own feeder one in front and one in back. I have the one Oriole feeder shown in this pic which has little pockets for the jelly as well as the well for the nectar. Then I have another Oriole nectar feeder I bought at the farm supply store. I will have 4 hummer feeders plus a window feeder. Last year the hummers really spent a lot of time on the blooms so I hope to have many pic taking opportunities. I looked thru the Stokes book last night and really enjoyed the pics as well as the way the book was set up with the maps showing where and when etc. Easy to read=easy on the old eyes. The Bluebird book looks interesting but after being spoiled with 2nd Cousin Dave's pics...I don't think the book pics are as comparable, although any BB pic is a joy to look at!! But like I said...now I'm spoiled!!

Here are the goodies!!

Nice stuff!
You are hooked!
Sometimes we have friends here, and we will be on the deck deep in conversation, when we stop and admire an "orange" flying by, or a hummer or hawk or eagle or some water bird.
Some of our company thinks we are really wierd, others get right into the binocs and spotting scope.
I cannot understand the people that can't get excited over seeing a beautiful baltimore oriole.

Nice haul, rose!

I remember seeing the baltimore orioles in Minnesota, but I have never seen an oriole in Alabama. There is always hope...

Nice shopping dellrose! I have that same hummer feeder its great! Sometimes the chickadees will sneak a drink from the ant moat in the middle! Like I said before, some girls like diamonds and shoes, not me I prefer birding supplies!!! GM

You have a bunch of nice stuff there dellrose, I went out and bought a feeder last year to put up this spring and haven't even had time to check the map out maybe tonite, I'm sure it's getting that time here but first I need to get another hanger and I keep passing them by when I'm in town cause I'm always in a rush!

Gosh I wish Dave was my second cousin no wonder you take such great pictures it must run in the family, I love both of your alls pictures!

LOL! LeBug...I wish Dave was my second cousin but that is just his forum name...but thanks for the wonderful complement!! I have had my hummer and Oriole feeders up forever now and still no takers. I also bought a hanging red petunia plant but nada!! I checked the map and it looks like they got within miles of where we live and decided to go farther north!! I am still waiting patiently....not!! It just seems like we've been waiting a long time and we even have Daffodils in bloom. I must go get some cheese to go with my whine....LOL!

Be patient Rose, they are all around you!! Maybe they are hanging out with your cuckoo.

LOL my mistake :) But I still say you take great pictures!

I read on a thread last year that they like milkweed fluff from the seeds for nesting material so I saved some to maybe attract them too but I'm wondering about that if they like the milkweed fluff that isn't around until much later in the summer but this year anyway I'll know to save more, I always save the drier lint and all of that, dog hair, my hair lol The yard looks a little ratty with all of this stuff around but the birds clean it up pretty fast, I trimmed the grasses the other day and almost all of the clippings are gone!

Hi LeBug!

Thats great you save the dog hair for the birds! Dryer Lint doesn't work out well because it stays wet during rain and can harm nestlings. I didn't know that until last year myself. :-)

LeBug...I had tons of milkweed fluff after harvesting seed last fall...I should have saved it and put it out this spring! We found a Hummer nest one year when we lived in Calif. It was the cutest thing...about the size of a toy cup only elongated. We brought it to Mo when we moved here and I gave it to an elderly lady who used to write a bird watching column for the local paper. She was so thrilled to have it.

Mrs. Ed...I think the Hummers and Orioles are in cahoots with the Cuckoos...they are trying to drive me cuckoo and succeeding!! The Cockoos were "singing" their song all day long!!! Did I see one.....No Way!!!

Hi pelletory, nice to see you here :) That's good to know about the dryer lint guess I'll quit saving it for the birds, I noticed out in the yard too where I dump the vacum cleaner the birds don't get the dog hair up like I though they would for their nest, when I was clipping my grasses they couldn't wait for me to get out of the way lol Guess I'll just save the lint for my compost :) It's funny about the doghair they won't pick it up from the vacum where I dump it but I can put it on top of a shrub and they pick it up from there?

dellrose, I have looked and looked for those special little hummer's nest and haven't found one yet, I would love to watch the little ones grow! Maybe one day, I bet that little nest was so cute!

Sometimes the finches drive me nuts outside when I'm transplanting those little chirps constantly at the feeder lol But they are so darn sweet, last year I had a blue bunting I think out there trying to share their food but they weren't having it, I noticed he finally gave up about the middle of the summer I couldn't believe they drove him away! I hope he comes back this year.

LeBug..The Goldfinches in our yard spend a lot of time ruling the roost also. I am always so surprised that they are so aggeesive! This past winter during one of the ice storms they actually ran the Bluebirds away from the heated water bowl. But I guess they need to be that way in order to survive in the craziness at the feeders! The only birds that run them off are the Cowbirds and Grackles and they don't eat constantly like the finches do! I would love to see a Blue Bunting...they are supposed to be summer residents in our area so I am always on the lookout for new birds. This is my first spring and summer for birding and it has been a real adventure so far!

Hi LeBug, When I put the cat hair out for the birds I usually toss small amounts of it in the air somewhere in front of a tree,or bush so it will land in different higher areas around the yard for them. There must have been alot of nests lined w/ Persian Cat hair in my area last Spring. :-)

I've been feeding the finches for a long time now and never noticed them being so aggressive but then that was the first time I've seen any other bird try to join in on their feeder too.

That was the first blue bunting that I have seen around here so I hope to see more this year! It's a shame I can't just keep a feeder just for them but there are two feeders out there you would think they would share LOL