Baltimore Oriole

Description:

A young, female Baltimore Oriole dining on an orange half

Habitat:

On feeder trees and stumps in our front yard. Feeder trees are located near a lake and within a seven miles radius of woodlands, wetlands, farmlands and prairie fields. We have brush, thickets and woods surrounded by grazing land in our backyard. I believe this is where they nest and raise their young (in these trees).

Notes:

Every year the number of Baltimore Orioles in our area has increased. We first start seeing them in early May and typically they're gone by mid-September. The parents bring their young to our feeding stations as soon as they're able to fly, showing them where food is. At first the parents feed them at the feeders but eventually the adults wait in trees nearby and let them feed themselves. Often times we see one baby begging for food (beak open and raised, head lowered and wings spread out and fluttering) from another baby (cross species). Occasionally there are squabbles but usually only the beak thrust, wing-flutter, angry squawk variety and nothing more serious.