If You Want To Attract Orioles This Spring, Now Is The Time To Start

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There are several species of orioles in the United States that you can attract to your yard, including Baltimore orioles (Icterus galbula), which are the most common throughout the eastern United States, Bullock's orioles (I. bullockii), and hooded orioles (I. cucullatus). They do have some similarities, primarily in the foods they enjoy, which can help you bring them into your garden. However, if you want to attract these birds, you have to do it at the right time of the year.

Orioles start appearing across most of the United States in April or early May. For many birds, pulling out feeders a little late isn't a big deal, as they will search for food and can find your yard at any point in the season. However, orioles are pretty dedicated to their feeding spots, and once they find a good place to feed, they will not search for another, which is why it's important to start now.

You can't just put up bird feeders for orioles the way you would for most other birds. They don't usually snack on seeds or nuts. Even suet feeders will rarely entice them. The best way to attract orioles is to give them fresh fruit. Oranges in particular are a treat, and grapes are a good second choice. Additionally, orioles aren't the easiest to attract. Don't lose hope if you don't bring them in this year. If you keep up with the efforts, they will pay off over time, and one spring you'll find orioles flocking to your yard.

Like hummingbirds, they also enjoy sugar water mixtures, though they will need different feeders. Ones like Nature's Way Oriole Buffet Bird Feeder on Amazon offer places to set fruit, jam, and sugar water. A water-to-sugar ratio of 6:1 is ideal.

As a special treat, and for a bit of an extra attractant, you can try jelly or jam. They aren't the most nutritious choice, which is why they shouldn't be the only food you use, but a spoonful as an extra treat can be a good way to catch an oriole's attention. Apple, raspberry, grape, orange, or strawberry are great options. However, make sure it isn't sugar-free, as alternative sweeteners do not provide birds with the nutrition they need. Another key factor is to allow insects into your yard, as they offer vital proteins for orioles. It's understandable to want to use pesticides to keep your garden safe, but this eliminates an essential food source for these birds. 

You can also buy mealworms.  They are more ideal for the late summer, as they are heavy in nutrients for long flights and nesting, but throwing a few on your birdfeeder can also entice orioles, as they are a delicious snack. Though a little icky, these insects are useful to buy, as they are something you can feed the common birds you might find in your garden in winter as well.

Where you put your oriole feeder is just as important as what you put in it. They like quieter areas with a little bit of cover, such as near bushes or trees, to give the birds places to rest and to keep the food inside from spoiling as fast. In addition to food, giving them a water source is also helpful. They like moving water in a shallow basin, such as a bird feeder with a solar fountain to keep them cool and hydrated.

They enjoy the color orange as well. While you should never dye sugar water, you can attract them to the food sources in other ways, such as using a feeding station in that color. You can also plant a few gorgeous perennials to grow for stunning orange flowers, such as dahlias. While you will want blooms that provide nectar for the entire oriole season from April to August or so, having some early starters can help attract them in the first place. Eastern red columbines (Aquilegia canadensis), for example, offer lots of nectar and bloom in April and May, and are an attractive orange-red color. 

Fruit bushes and trees are also an ideal food source for orioles. They tend to enjoy darker fruits like cherries, grapes, raspberries, and blackberries. Blueberries are a sweet shrub to attract orioles as well, especially if you can buy shrubs that are a few years old and plant them by April.