Bullock's orioles ~ garden gems

I'm pretty sure I've written many times about the beautiful Bullock's orioles that frequent my garden during the summer months.  They are especially entertaining this time of year when the young have fledged (and the parents seem to have a teeny bit more time on their hands).  This year I'm fairly certain I have at least four or five nesting pairs that visit the feeders off & on throughout the day.  You might be wondering how I could possibly know that (aside from having them line up for an organized head count).  I know because I've spent more hours than I'll ever admit, staring out the window familiarizing myself with the males.   I am not sexist at all, it's just easier to make observations when you use the sharply contrasting black & orange patterns on the males for a barometer.  Like the subtle variations of stripes on zebras, there are distinguishing differences to a careful observer.  Let me demonstrate ~ below are two males whose different plumage patterns are readily apparent.   The first image features a brilliant male with a (primarily) orange head, black "cap" but minus a strong black eye line (that is usually an obvious identifier for this bird):

The next male has a much blacker head (I'm even wondering if it's a hybrid ~ cross between a Baltimore & Bullock's??)

Now you see how I tell them apart, right?  You'll have to trust me about the remaining males ~ for although I watch them vigilantly, I don't usually have my camera at hand.  There is a reason ~ the orioles that visit my yard are pretty "furtive," the slightest movement will send them flying off so I prefer not to stress them.  Most of the photos I have were taken as inconspicuously as possible, thru the dining room window.

In the last week, this years young have begun to show up around the garden with their parents.  They are particularly fun to watch because they are so curious (as babies are) about the new big world around them.  They pay rapt attention to whatever Mom or Dad is doing:

But they also spend long intervals investigating objects adults would never pay any attention to ~ like the vintage orange trowel mounted on the arbor in the photo below:

This little one conducted an exhaustive examination before deciding there was nothing nutritional about it.  He (she) was sure cute doing it tho!

I always find their tiny tail feathers so endearing:

 

but simultaneously terrifying since they are so vulnerable at this stage.  I don't know why I feel so proprietorial/protective about the baby birds born in and around my garden ~ I'm just glad when they fly off and no fatalities have occurred on my watch. 

It won't be long before that happens either.  The enjoyment derived from having them flit about the garden is almost over for another season.  The males will leave first (very soon now) followed by the females and finally the young.  By mid-August (at the latest), it will be as tho they were never here.  I'm feeling a twinge of sadness just thinking about it and next May (when they return) seems eons away....

 

 

 

Comments

[Dana]

I love reading your blog Kathleen - the way you write it makes me feel like I am there watching with you. I need to make more of an effort to get them into my yard! I understand what you mean about feeling protective over the babies. I was so worried about the baby Robins I was watching this year...and enjoyed watching the parents chase off anything that got near the nest. I'll have to get some tips from you next Spring on what I need to do to attract these gorgeous birds.

[Grace]

Great post, Kathleen. I don't think we have those beauties here in my neck of the woods. I love how you write about them, seizing every opportunity to capture their antics before they head for parts unknown. Fun.

[tina]

They are truly beautiful. I've never seen orioles so I really enjoy your posts on these birds. I too would be staring at them all day long. What a delightful repast.

[PlantPostings]

Wow, you really know your brood! They are cute and it's so fun to read about your encounters with them. Of course, your photography is spot on as always. What a great post!

[sweetbay]

I love to watch the birds in my garden too. They certainly are beautiful and entertaining. When the Orchard Orioles came to our farm they never stayed long ~ showed up in May and left by late July..

I know what you mean about identifying individual birds. I grew up on a big lake with several dozen Mallards and could tell most of them apart. The personality differences helped too!

[Shady Gardener]

Do you think the second photo of the darker faced male could be a mutation? Or just a phase?

[Racquel]

I've never seen Orioles here, such pretty birds. :)

[Janet, The Queen of Seaford]

What pretty birds. I love seeing the different birds across the country.