[NatureNS] Baltimore oriole

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From: Lois Codling <loiscodling@hfx.eastlink.ca>
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2015 22:41:53 -0400
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Hi Derek,

My advice on Orioles is don't try to make them stay the winter! They can 
make it through, but it requires a very dedicated person to feed them.  
They will eat grapes and grape jelly until it starts to get really 
cold.  Then they need to get peanut butter mixed with suet, and lots of 
mealworms.  The fats and protein are what enables them to survive the 
cold.  Even if you have your own mealworm colony it is difficult to 
produce enough worms to give them enough to keep them alive.  Then there 
is the problem of making sure they and not other birds (e.g. Starlings) 
get to eat this special food.  You need to have a feeding cage, made of 
wire netting which will allow them but not the other birds, to get into 
it.  Some people provide a bit of heat via lightbulbs to keep the food 
from freezing.  I used to put hot water in a small plastic container 
with a second plastic container attached to the lid. Food in the second 
container.  But you have to be home to change the water in cold weather 
so the whole thing doesn't freeze.

Have I discouraged you?  Hopefully your bird will move on towards the 
more hospitable South, and all will be well.  Sometimes, though, they 
just don't go.

Lois Codling
L. Sackville


On 20/11/2015 8:25 PM, D W Bridgehouse wrote:
> The last 2 days we have had a new backyard bird in  a male Baltimore 
> Oriole around our backyard feeding on the neighbors grapes . This bird 
> would be considered a “lifer” for me as a rank amateur watcher of 
> feeder birds that throng to our sunflower seed birdfeeder.
> Up until yesterday I had never seen this bird before and actually had 
> to look it up . But the  black head , burnt orange ( almost gold 
> orange ) body  and what caught my eye were the white wing bars . Close 
> to size of a robin.
> Quite a handsome bird !
> But it has been hanging around getting its fill of the grapes .
> My question to those of you more knowledgeable than I – can this bird 
> be enticed to hang around if more food is provided , ie more grapes , 
> apple etc  or do they usually not survive the winter around here ( 
> unless we have a mild winter )  do they feed on same food as robins or 
> will they take seed ? ?
> I know these are not “rare “ but they seem to be not all that common . 
> Is that the premise with Baltimore Orioles
> Thanks for any help from those with any experience who have fed  
> B.orioles in the past or present
> Derek B
> Dartmouth, NS
>
>
> Night hath a thousand eyes.
> Lyly,c.1589, Maydes Metamorphose


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    Hi Derek,<br>
    <br>
    My advice on Orioles is don't try to make them stay the winter! 
    They can make it through, but it requires a very dedicated person to
    feed them.  They will eat grapes and grape jelly until it starts to
    get really cold.  Then they need to get peanut butter mixed with
    suet, and lots of mealworms.  The fats and protein are what enables
    them to survive the cold.  Even if you have your own mealworm colony
    it is difficult to produce enough worms to give them enough to keep
    them alive.  Then there is the problem of making sure they and not
    other birds (e.g. Starlings) get to eat this special food.  You need
    to have a feeding cage, made of wire netting which will allow them
    but not the other birds, to get into it.  Some people provide a bit
    of heat via lightbulbs to keep the food from freezing.  I used to
    put hot water in a small plastic container with a second plastic
    container attached to the lid. Food in the second container.  But
    you have to be home to change the water in cold weather so the whole
    thing doesn't freeze.<br>
    <br>
    Have I discouraged you?  Hopefully your bird will move on towards
    the more hospitable South, and all will be well.  Sometimes, though,
    they just don't go.<br>
    <br>
    Lois Codling<br>
    L. Sackville<br>
    <br>
    <br>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 20/11/2015 8:25 PM, D W Bridgehouse
      wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote cite="mid:C45E9C40D4CE4A538DB42267769F5351@DerekHP"
      type="cite">
      <div dir="ltr">
        <div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman';
          COLOR: #000000">
          <div>The last 2 days we have had a new backyard bird in  a
            male Baltimore Oriole around our backyard feeding on the
            neighbors grapes . This bird would be considered a “lifer”
            for me as a rank amateur watcher of feeder birds that throng
            to our sunflower seed birdfeeder. </div>
          <div> </div>
          <div>Up until yesterday I had never seen this bird before and
            actually had to look it up . But the  black head , burnt
            orange ( almost gold orange ) body  and what caught my eye
            were the white wing bars . Close to size of a robin. </div>
          <div> </div>
          <div>Quite a handsome bird !</div>
          <div> </div>
          <div>But it has been hanging around getting its fill of the
            grapes .</div>
          <div> </div>
          <div>My question to those of you more knowledgeable than I –
            can this bird be enticed to hang around if more food is
            provided , ie more grapes , apple etc  or do they usually
            not survive the winter around here ( unless we have a mild
            winter )  do they feed on same food as robins or will they
            take seed ? ?</div>
          <div> </div>
          <div>I know these are not “rare “ but they seem to be not all
            that common . Is that the premise with Baltimore Orioles </div>
          <div> </div>
          <div>Thanks for any help from those with any experience who
            have fed  B.orioles in the past or present </div>
          <div> </div>
          <div> </div>
          <div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman';
            COLOR: #000000">Derek B<br>
            Dartmouth, NS<br>
            <br>
            <br>
            Night hath a thousand eyes.<br>
            Lyly,c.1589, Maydes Metamorphose</div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </blockquote>
    <br&