Attracting orioles to your yard can be a fun and easy activity, especially during the big bird months of April and May in the Great Lakes region. With the right tips and tricks, you can enjoy the company of these colorful birds well into the late summer. From setting up a bird-watching camera to using vibrant feeders and offering the right type of food, you can create a haven for these beautiful creatures. So, why not give it a try and add a splash of color and life to your yard this summer?
In the Great Lakes region, the summer months are a great time for birdwatchers and those who enjoy setting out feeders to attract active birds. Robins, having been around since mid-March, are seen feasting on insects and worms emerging from the thawing earth. To capture the delightful moments of these beautiful birds, consider setting up a bird-watching camera in your yard during their arrival in early May.
The Baltimore Oriole is another migratory bird that is eagerly awaited. After spending the winter in Mexico, Cuba, and Central America, this bird begins its journey to Canada, the Great Lakes, and New England regions in early March. Orioles are medium-sized songbirds with thick necks and long legs, and their long, thick-based, pointed bills are a telltale sign of their belonging to the Blackbird family.
Attracting Orioles to your yard can be achieved within a few weeks with a little persistence. By following some simple rules of thumb, you can enjoy the company of this colorful resident throughout the entire summer season.
One of the best ways to attract Orioles is to use bright, vibrant colors in a quiet setting with nearby trees and bushes for them to perch from. An orange feeder or real cut orange halves can draw the bird in for a feast. To keep ants at bay, set the sliced orange halves in a shallow bit of water and replace them daily. If you notice any black gunk forming, clean off the area immediately as mold can be harmful to the birds.
Our hypothesis is that Orioles have a great memory. We once spotted a small flock fly in and watch as we unpacked the car until the feeder was placed. Placing your feeders out early can catch the early arrivals and may turn those passing through into seasonal residents.
Orioles are picky birds. They prefer a quiet environment with minimal activity around their feeder, including pets and kids. Here are a few tips to increase your chances of attracting these birds to your backyard.
Keep the Oriole feeder out in the open. We have observed the most active oriole feeder to be one placed on a pole in the middle of the yard. Orioles will swoop in from the nearby trees, sample the sweet nectar, and then fly off to a nearby perch to finish up, preen, and do it again.
We use the same sugar nectar recipe for both Orioles and Hummingbirds. Add one cup of granulated sugar to four cups of boiling water, stir and let it cool. Refrigerate the unused portion and never use food coloring. Some experts recommend thinning the ratio to eight parts water to 1 part sugar.
Another way to attract Orioles to your yard is to offer a favorite alternative to nectar – a small amount of grape jelly. A couple of tablespoons in an open dish or container is like ringing the dinner bell for these birds. You may see some aggressive behavior by the Orioles as they vie for feeding rights. For an easier clean-up, mix a ¼ cup of water into the jelly.
If you see black gunk forming around your feeder, take it in, wash it in hot soapy water, and rinse thoroughly. This advice is especially important for hummingbird feeders. The sweet nectar will draw in ants and other critters.
If you are lucky enough to see one of the small, grey sack-like nests in your yard, start offering mealworms. In the early summer, the birds crave the sweetness from fruit nectar after their long migratory flight north. However, once the breeding season starts, they will begin to seek out insects. Mealworms are a great high-protein food that will build them up for their next flight south.
The bird won’t reuse the nest, but they will recycle the material. Orioles will set their nests out on slender, green twigs to discourage predators like raccoons. We found nests in small bushes from three to six feet off the ground. One suggestion that we have not tried is to offer lengths of twine fiber or horsehair. Sadly, we have seen small spreads of plastic wrap in one nest.
Orioles are attracted to shallow, moving water. We have seen them attracted to a shallow puddle after a rainstorm. Select a wide shallow basin and add a bubbler or small pump to create water movement to attract the most birds. Keep the water clean. Bright colors will also draw their attention.
Orioles are typically shy. They do not like a lot of traffic from humans or animals. To attract Orioles to your yard, try to locate your feeder in an open area where it can be seen from the air and treetops. Placement in a high branch or on top of a pole is ideal.
In conclusion, attracting Orioles to your yard is not only rewarding but also a fun and easy activity. With the right tips and tricks, you can enjoy the company of these colorful birds well into the late summer. So why not give it a try and add a splash of color and life to your yard this summer? Remember, a little effort can go a long way in creating a haven for these beautiful creatures.
#BirdWatching #AttractOrioles
See the original post at [11 Tips To Attract Orioles to Your Yard This Summer & Humming Birds too!](https://thumbwind.com/2021/02/11/attract-orioles-to-your-yard/)
