How to Attract Orioles to Your Yard
Do you love birds? One of my favorites is the Oriole. Their beautiful orange feathers are exciting to see. Especially amongst the green of the trees where they perch. It’s a joy to go outside and see them flying around and to hear them singing their tune. If you’re wanting to add some new feathered friends to your yard, then look no further. Below are a few tips on how to attract orioles to your yard this spring so you can enjoy the many benefits of birdwatching.
If you live in the warmer climates, you’re likely to see these types of birds all year, with more so in the winter. For those of you in the Midwest and Northern parts, they’ll begin to appear in Spring as they migrate north.
Provide a comfortable environment for them by planting colorful flowers and bushes. And keep these special foods below for them during their stay.
They Love Vibrant Colors
Use vibrant colors to attract orioles. Oriole specific feeders take care of this for you as they are orange. If you use feeders with muted colors, try tying an orange ribbon around a nearby tree. Or around the feeder itself.
They Like a Variety Of Foods
Fresh fruit like oranges and grapes. As well as grape jelly, nectar, and dried mealworms are their favorites.
April – June
Give them sweet foods to provide them with energy upon first arrival like oranges and jelly. For fresh fruit and jelly. Buy special feeders like this to hold orange halves and grape jelly. Or you can cut oranges in half and impale them on to a nearby tree branch.
Look for feeders to hold nectar that you can buy. Or make your own sugar-water solution using 6 parts water to 1 part dissolved white sugar.
June – August
During summer, they need more protein. Dried mealworms are perfect for this. Put some in with their jelly at first so they get a mix of both. Then you can switch to all mealworms in those jelly dishes throughout the rest of the summer.
When To Put Out Your Feeders
The key to attracting Orioles is timing. You’ll want to put your feeders out a couple of weeks before you think they’ll arrive so you don’t miss them. Mid to late April is when you’ll see them appear in the Midwest States like Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois and such. Late April – first of May for Northern States like Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and the like. If you’re even farther north, like Ontario, Canada, look for them to arrive first to mid-May.
Once they arrive they’ll begin to look for food sources. If they don’t find any, they’ll move on.
They will stick around through summer and begin to migrate south in August. Keep your feeders out until then, and keep the food fresh.
Where To Place Your Feeders
It’s best to place them out in the open where they can see them from the air. Shepherd’s Hooks are perfect for this. They also love moving water, so place a bird bath with a solar fountain nearby.
They Remember Reliable Food Sources
It may take them a season or two to show up in your yard. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see any your first year putting out feeders. Once they do find your them, they will remember the reliable food sources and return each year. Put out the same foods in the same spot every season and they’ll soon be back, and bring their friends too.
Practice these tips today to attract orioles to your backyard or garden. And you can enjoy their beauty all summer long.
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