Creature Feature – The Baltimore Oriole

Each spring, the Baltimore oriole returns to us from its wintering grounds in Central America to breed and raise young.  The mature male has brilliant-orange, black and white plumage; the female is more subdued, but still lovely. It prefers smaller stands of trees over deep forests and can often be found foraging up high in the tree canopy.  While the Baltimore oriole eats a lot of harmful pests — such as tent caterpillars, flies and grasshoppers — it can ruin orchard crops while gobbling up favorite fruits, like raspberries and cherries. It likes nectar, too, so don’t be surprised to find one sneaking a sip at your hummingbird feeder.  The female oriole constructs a hanging sock-like nest by randomly “weaving” together slender plant fibers, horse hair, bits of string, frayed strips of plastic tarps and other useful man-made materials. The male defends the pair’s territory. Try attracting Baltimore orioles to your yard each spring by offering orange halves impaled on tree branches or little bowls of grape jelly.  With any luck, you’ll be rewarded with opportunities to marvel at the beauty of this bird, as well as experience its buoyant songs and loud, chattering call.

Article & Photo by Margie Manthey