|
Post by Mumsey on May 4, 2019 20:25:55 GMT -5
Neighbors had their first hummingbird today, I saw our first Oriole this evening pecking away at the orange I put out last night! binnylou, I didn't know to put out yarn for them!
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on May 4, 2019 20:47:10 GMT -5
I used to hang a cotton string scrub mop out to dry. I’d see them harvesting string for their nests. After that, we cut yarn about six inches long and put it on bushes for them.
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on May 5, 2019 4:59:18 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by James on May 5, 2019 11:31:20 GMT -5
Yes that Oriole's nest is a Natural Wonder. How they take bits of string and horse hair and other fibers and weave it into that nest is quite amazing.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on May 5, 2019 11:43:09 GMT -5
It's a wonder that they build such a nest, but I find it amazing that the nest survives some of Iowa's severe thunderstorms and wind.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on May 5, 2019 12:25:08 GMT -5
What a amazingly beautiful nest!
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on May 5, 2019 14:40:40 GMT -5
There were 3 Orioles this morning, early. I was looking out the attic window and could see them in the tree. The leaves aren't fully out yet, if they were I'd never see them. They worked on the oranges then left. Been outside all day which is probably why they haven't been back yet.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on May 6, 2019 12:52:25 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by SpringRain🕊️ on May 6, 2019 16:13:09 GMT -5
Orioles are apparently nature's natural crafts birds; they have their own version of knitting and crocheting.
As to inviting them with oranges, what would be the best way to do that, including avoiding tempting other unwanted animals?
Robins once nested in a wreath I made and hung on the porch. After the eggs hatched, I had to time my excursions out to get my mail to avoid them as apparently the mother robin wasn't receptive to my using my own porch while she was using it as a nursery.
The postal carrier at that time even refused to deliver mail; he said the robin attacked him. (But he also claimed that spiders jumped on him from the arborvitae in the front yard.)
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on May 6, 2019 19:10:32 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️, I just put the oranges on top of the bird feeder, fastened in the hook/loopy things on top. Nothing else seems to bother them. he also claimed that spiders jumped on him from the arborvitae in the front yard.) That seems a little far-fetched!
|
|
|
Post by SpringRain🕊️ on May 6, 2019 22:09:50 GMT -5
Mumsey, I did think at the time that he was a little bit too paranoid.
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on May 8, 2019 4:57:22 GMT -5
Caught a pic of an Oriole! He landed after I got in my car, so I just took the pic from there.
|
|
|
Post by James on May 8, 2019 11:06:33 GMT -5
Nice shot on the Oriole.
When I stepped out on the patio this morning two Canadian Geese came flying over the house.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on May 9, 2019 12:41:20 GMT -5
Hubby spotted the male Oriole fluttering at the deck window this morning. Now they are back She is feasting on an orange that I put on the deck table and he is standing guard. They are both beautiful, but he looks really grand. He has a really big orange breast...he almost glows.
|
|
|
Post by SpringRain🕊️ on May 9, 2019 16:33:35 GMT -5
I'm enjoying reading the posts about the avian visitors. I haven't seen many birds at all so far, and I'm wondering why. There have been a few robins, but I haven't seen or heard any Blue Jays.
|
|