Oriole Birds are spectacular to watch during the summer months. Their brilliant coat of orange and black can breath life into any garden. Orioles prefer woody areas and river groves but they have adapted well to urban areas such as parks and gardens. You can usually find them building their nests high in poplar and willow trees. Attracting them to your yard is as simple as laying out a buffet of their favorite treats.
During the summer months, orioles feed primarily on fresh fruit and berries, however, insects, certain nuts and flower nectar are also a part of their regime. Oriole feeders come in all shapes and sizes. Finding the right one is not particularly hard if you know what your are looking for.
The most popular oriole feeder is the nectar feeder which is shaped much like a hummingbird feeder with a few exceptions. The hummingbird feeder is almost always red while the oriole feeder is a bright orange. The feeder ports and landing pads are also larger to comfortably accommodate the size of orioles. Often these feeders will have skewers to hang fruit slices.
Another method of attracting orioles to your garden is to lay out a bowl of orange marmalade. If you want something a bit more formal, you can buy feeders especially designed to accommodate fruit slices and marmalade. These can be suspended throughout your garden.
Other oriole feeders come in the form of houses which can hold seeds, fruits and jams. Some can be hung on your window sill while others are plain hooks that can yield several fruit slices attracting many birds at once. Some even come with a built in canopy for much needed shade. Some feeders are made to house meal worms while others are simple fruit suet.
Once you've chosen your feeder, you need to keep in mind a few guidelines for proper placement. Never hang an oriole feeder in direct sunlight. A shaded area is highly recommended since fruit and nectar can spoil easily causing the birds to get sick. Fresh fruit should be changed on a daily basis while nectar can be substituted every 4 to 5 days. The ideal height for hanging your new feeder is anywhere between 5 and 7 feet off the ground. Ideally, orioles should be provided with nesting materials such as grasses, chips and plant fibers. a drinking and bathing source should also be readily available for those hot summer days.
