News

A closer look at a 31-day observation of the orchard oriole

For the last dozen years or so, my daily 3-mile walk has, by choice, stopped at the same turn-around spot. I call it my "birding patch". Sixty-five years ago I fondly remember this place as an active farm orchard and pasture with a pond.

Now, thankfully, this multi-acre parcel of wetland meadow is shared by three families who are committed nature conservationists.

Therefore, I have the pleasure of year-round flora and fauna observations, through all seasons, and of course, witnessing the spectrum of local bird life. My life list numbers are enhanced by regularly visitation, but more importantly, there is the opportunity to discover species behavior over time.

I am always learning, always surprised. This past year, 2021, for the first time in my 60 years of birding, I was a delighted to discover a pair of orchard orioles in nesting mode. To boot, the male was in first summer plumage (February to August), with not the rich chestnut color, but yellow and sporting a delightful bib/throat patch.

For a month, the two birds orchestrated the full range of creation's glory.

A few characteristic of comparing orchard vs. Baltimore orioles

• Size: Orchard orioles are the smallest of all orioles, often mistaken for a warbler

• Lighter weight: An orchard oriole weights 0.67 ounces and a Baltimore oriole weights 1.2 ounces.

• Color: The male orchard oriole is dark chestnut with hood vs. bright orange for a Baltimore oriole. The female is yellow/green vs. drab orange.

• Song: A rich, lively, warbling with distinctive ringing end vs. rich, short, clear whistle notes

• Diet: Insects, fruit and occasional tree blossoms vs. insects, fruit, nectar, few spiders and snails

• Cowbird host: Common (passive host) vs. uncommon (May eject egg)

NESTING

• Orchard orioles are monogamous

• Nest: built in 3-6 days by a female with some help from the male; suspended fomforked terminal twig that is well hidden by leaves

• Incubator: Female primarily, with male supplying her food.

• Incubation: 12 days.

FLEDGLINGS

• Both parents feed their young

• Young leave the nest in 11-14 days

• Parents often divide fledglings and care for them separately

• Family units stay together until leaving in the fall

FIELD NOTES

May 16, 2021 (7:30 a.m.)

Female seen first, thinking initially female was a Baltimore until I see the male, who is yellow with the black bib of a first spring male. She is carrying nesting material deep in the upper part of a young pear tree, site well hidden in new leaves. The nest is 10 feet high. The bird flies into nearby hedgerow where she initiates breeding behavior, and a male responds. Identification confirmed: orchard orioles. It's the first time seeing the nesting process.

May 17, 2021 (7:50 a.m.)

Watching a female bring nesting material, eyeing me all the while. With focused behavior, she quickly leaves. I follow her flight away and catch a glimpse of her choosing the next cache of material. Interestingly, amid her building, a mature male orchard oriole in beautiful chestnut color, comes to investigate the pear tree activity. He stays there for three minutes and moves on without disturbing the site.

May 21, 2021 (8 a.m.)

A red-winged blackbird investigates nest. Female could be on the nest. Not confirmed this morning. I wonder if a female cowbird has visited.

May 31, 2021 (7:50 a.m.)

Bird on nest (head movement, eye on me). As the bird leaves, she squeezes though an upper limb. She returns a few minutes later and settles down.

June 1, 2021 (7:15 a.m.)

Yes! A female on the nest, movement, then flies to nearby spruce tree, and returns 10 minutes later and settles down. A male comes by and takes note of female, then leaves.

June 2, 2021 (7:35 a.m.)

Female continues on nest, leaves for 5 minutes, returns and carefully settles down. (Wondering: "the young, tiny and delicate, to be squeezed in the nest's sack construction"). Am learning to spend time with confusing detail with this well-hidden nest site. It's a high angular tail, not twig. A black pupil eye, not small pear fruit on tiny stem ... beak, not nesting material.

June 5, 2021 (7:45 a.m.)

Looks discouraging, no activity, nest looks disheveled A recent storm or predators? Oops! there is one (A male? A female?), but it shows non-feeding behavior.

June 6, 2021 (7:10 a.m.)

For a half hour, I watch a male stop and go, feeding young, and noticed small bits between mandibles and gleaning nest when leaving. It feels like the male is guarding the nest and he seems less stressed when I move further away. Yes, there are young, and the family seems OK.

June 7, 2021 (7:50 a.m.)

Male continues to be the tending parent. Is it getting used to me?

June 8, 2021 (7:30 a.m.)

Both male and female were feeding this morning, on one occasion, one right after another. This is encouraging. Thus far, nesting is a success. Parents seem to stage their approach to site, including diminutive chirp, from a nearby mature cherry tree, then fly to the nest. I approach the site cautiously and remain at about 50 feet away. I like the way the parents tenderly approach the top of nest, then feed and clean debris.

June 9, 2021 (7:30 a.m.)

This morning there is both male and female actively feeding (five trips in 20 minutes between them). Food is very small insects, I guess. Mulberries starting to come along and perhaps young introduced. I have learned to stay 50 feet away now. The male seems happier and actually a song came my way.

June 10, 2021 (7:20 a.m.)

Upon arrival, the male approaches the nest via the lower branches, climbs to young. He feeds, surveys and leaves this time by semi-circling above me -- perhaps observing me? -- and beelines well over the trees as if anxious to secure more distant food. I have noticed this trajectory before. The male and female use the nearby tree hedgerow as a staging area and survey me before flying into the nest site. They are learning my presence is not a threat (I hope so). Female searches for food closer to the nest site and the male seems to go in opposite direction.

June 12, 2021 (7:45 a.m.)

Seven male and female fly-ins feeding their young in 20 minutes of continuous activity. Exiting birds, not wasting time, do straight-line fly to secure next morsels. It's interesting how their return flight is so quick, I often miss their return entrance because there is limited visual leaf and branch disturbance. When the young are alone, heads can be seen bobbing above the nest edge. It's getting harder to see nest structure with maturing leaves. Birds are using soft locator calls as they glean hedge row trees. Male is getting his darker color. At one point, the male goes to top leafless ash tree branch and sings a lusty song. I wondered,

"Is he saying, as he takes a break, 'so far, so good' or 'I want my kids to know my voice?'").

June 13, 2021 (7:20 a.m.)

Body movement of nestlings noted, seem too large for such a small sack-like nesting structure. Perhaps an orchard oriole nest material has expanding flexibility like a hummingbirds? Parents are vocalizing at a distance and both are feeding. The female reviews me as she climbs up internal tree structure.

June 14, 2021 (7:45 a.m.)

Today, the male gives me sustained close look on a nearby light pole tension wire, close to nest site. Is this behavior suggesting something is different? Chosen feeding source is closer to home base? Indeed, the young are out of the nest, at least two are in nearby dense bushes being fed by one parent (insects, caterpillars?). The family has moved! Parents are busy gleaning insects in leaves, move back and forth watching and feeding young. The young display flutter wing beat, and look healthy. The male is developing darker feathers. How handsome he is becoming. Beautiful!

June 15, 2021 (8 a.m.)

No activity. Nostalgia. Like going to an empty concert hall now, with only great memories and sounds of what was. Yes, the bird family has moved on to another location. This patch is now sacred space.

Larry Waltz is a board member and field trip coordinator of the Lycoming Audubon Society.

BIRD LORE is produced by the Lycoming Audubon Society (serving Lycoming and Clinton Counties) and Seven Mountains Audubon (serving Union, Snyder, Northumberland and Columbia Counties) and Tiadaghton Audobon Society (serving Tioga and Potter Counties). Information about these National Audubon Society chapters can be found at: http://lycomingaudubon.blogspot.com, http://sevenmountainsaudubon.org and https://tiadaghtonaudubon.blogspot.com.