All about the Oriole and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird

At this very moment thousands of birds are in migration and headed our way. While we sleep, they fill the skies, traveling countless miles. They will have crossed wide expanses of ocean, have navigated through confusing city lights, and endured harsh weather to settle and breed here. Yet of the multitude of birds, few will readily reveal themselves to us, most will stay hidden among the constellation of emerging foliage, except for two very brilliant and fascinating species: the Baltimore Oriole and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

More often heard than seen, the Baltimore Oriole announces its return through its rich song. From high in the forest canopy, the faraway and atmospheric notes of the male oriole tell every birder that warm weather is here to stay and that the bright days of May are before us. At closer range, in our backyards or local park, the oriole’s song is loud, clear and without imperfection. Either way, we generally need its song before sighting the bird.

In contrast, the hummingbird is often seen first, and then, once aware of this quiet bird, we are alert to its presence by its distinct series of sharp notes. While we are out and about, hummingbirds typically surprise us. They like to swiftly appear, check us out, sample a flower or two, and fly off.

Fortunately, there is a way to see orioles and hummingbirds up-close on a regular basis, but you will need to act fast before their breeding season is underway. While most birders know that sugar water attracts the hummingbirds, not all birders are aware that orioles like it, too. Although you can make your own

feeder, manufactured feeders are readily available at feed and garden stores. You can also get pre-mixed sugar water or nectar, but a homemade solution is probably better.

The nectar is simply one part pure table sugar to four parts water. It is not necessary to color the water with dye; however, a hummingbird feeder must be red. Hummingbirds are designed through evolution to extract nectar from deep within tubular flowers, where other creatures find it difficult to obtain, and most of those flowers happen to be red. Thus, the hummingbird’s attraction to red. In fact, the greater red surface area around the feeder, the better your results.

The oriole has a favorite color, too. They enjoy eating fruit and associate orange with citrus. Hence, oriole feeders are colored bright orange. You can use the same one part sugar to four parts water ratio used for hummingbirds. Try offering sliced oranges, which can be placed in a mesh bag or pierced through nails across a wooden plank. Painting the wood orange, and making sure the feeder is visible from above will increase success.

In a few weeks, orioles will stray from nectar and will be searching for insects to feed themselves and their hatchlings. So I recommend mixing meal worms in with the oranges to keep them at the feeder. Although hummingbirds will feed on the nectar summer-long, they do tend to stray from the feeders in summer. Keep them around by planting bee balm, butterfly bush, foxglove, petunia, and red salvia.

Perhaps you will be fortunate and keep your orioles and hummingbirds through the summer. The next time you see either of these birds, consider the immense journey they have completed. Imagine the hummingbird that weighs no more than the nickel in your pocket crossing non-stop the 600-mile Gulf of Mexico to arrive at your feeder.