Oriole Feeders

Sweet-talk some orioles into visiting your garden

Although many birds are welcome in a garden, a backyard birder will get a real treat when he or she spots an oriole visiting the hummingbird feeder. Orioles are beautifully colored birds that migrate over North America and will show up in northern areas during the summertime. They're quite a sight to see, with their orange feathers and bright beaks, and you will see them occasionally drinking the nectar from hummingbird feeders. However, you can attract lots of orioles to your garden by setting out their own feeder filled with their preferred snacks.

Orioles are migratory birds, so they need a lot of energy in order to make the long flights from their tropical wintering places back to their northern summer homes. They are attracted to the color orange - probably because their feathers and a lot of their favorite foods are this color. In fact, orioles can see orange from high up in the sky, and will often fly down to investigate the source, even in a backyard. They don't like birdseed, so don't expect to see any at your regular feeder. Instead, you can put out a special oriole feeder that looks very similar to one for hummingbirds, but is made so that the oriole's unique beak and tongue can reach the nectar easily from the feeding ports.

Food Ideas for Orioles

You can buy oriole nectar or make it yourself, from grape jelly and water, or orange juice and water. Just add one part water to one part grape jelly and blend it together so that it has the consistency of thick juice. The orioles will go crazy over this treat - you can even put out a small pot of pure grape jelly for them. Orioles also love fruit, especially oranges. There are special feeders that will hold fruit firmly in place so that the birds can eat with ease. Simply cut an orange in half or screw an apple onto the corkscrews provided on your feeder and watch them flock to get the sweet nectar. If you really want to make them happy, sprinkle some meal worms on top of some grape jelly. This provides a protein delicacy that they will adore.

Like hummingbird feeders, you may have problems from time to time with bees and ants trying to get at the sweet food that you're putting out for the orioles. Never use oil or petroleum jelly to deter these pests; instead, buy a feeder with bee protectors or get some Tanglefoot, which is a sticky substance found at garden centers. It traps ants and bees where they stand, which will prevent them from stealing the orioles' food.