oriole feeders | Window Bird Feeders

Window Bird Feeders
By Ray Lam
There are many stages that we go through in our lives that call for adjustments. Starting as a child we need to adjust to the different spaces that we are put in. We go from a crib to a toddler bed to a twin bed. We adjust to sharing our bedroom spaces to having a space of our own. When we go on to college we often have to adjust to once again sharing out space with others in dorm rooms or shared housing. Fro some people this is not an issue, but for others it is a difficult transition. When we marry or move in with our partner we need to adjust to them. My mother is going through one of the hardest adjustments that we need to make in life. She is adjusting to not only being alone after fifty-one years of marriage, but also moving to a much smaller space.

After my father died it became obvious that my mother could not take care of the five-bedroom farmhouse that she and dad had shared for over forty years. The house was large and old and she was not safe trying to go up and down stairs to do laundry and to get to the upstairs bedroom area. We considered remodeling the house, but we were also concerned about her living out in the country by herself with a large yard and the need for snow removal services in the winter. She agreed to move into a senior high rise building in the small town that was located close to

the farm. Moving from a five-bedroom house in the country to a one-bedroom apartment in town was quite an undertaking. She needed to get rid of many belongings. My mother loved being outdoors so the biggest thing for her to get used to was opening her door and being in a hallway. We wanted to give her some reminders of being of the farm so we bought window bird feeders for her to have in the living room and bedroom. She had always fed the birds at home so this was something that she could still enjoy.

The window bird feeders were shaped like a small house. They are made of clear plastic so they are lightweight and they suction cup to the windows. The roof of the house keeps the seeds dry. At first we were concerned that the window bird feeders would not stay on the windows, but the instructions that came with them worked. We were instructed to clean the space on the window where the suction cup would be with rubbing alcohol. We then put a very thin layer of vegetable oil on the suction cup and stuck it on the window. The suction cup fit very firmly. We filled the dishes with food and within a day the birds were coming to eat. We kept the bag of food in the closet and each time someone visited we would put more in the feeders. Mom gets a great deal of enjoyment watching the birds come to her window bird feeders.

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bird pole | Bird Houses | Birdbaths | Bird Feeders | wooden bird house | Oriole Feeders

Oriole Feeders Will Add Some Colorful Magic To Your Bird Friendly Yard

With its brilliant orange and black plumage, the oriole's arrival is eagerly awaited by backyard birders during each spring migration. It is a magical moment when you hear the very conspicuous and fluent song announcing the arrival of the oriole. All birders are ready to welcome this beautiful bird with oriole feeders bearing assortments of fruit, nectar and oriole food. To the oriole, the oriole feeders look like a grand buffet after a long and hard migration.

You can prepare for the arrival of these gorgeous birds in early spring by placing orange halves on your oriole feeders. The color orange attracts orioles because it is the color of the fruits they have been eating in the tropics all winter. Orioles will also eat cherries, berries, grapes and figs. After seeing a few orioles at your feeders, you can add some grape jelly to your feeder. In late spring or early summer add some nectar to your feeders to keep the orioles coming back for more. Many oriole feeders can accommodate fruit, jelly and nectar.

Like many birds, orioles are territorial and will defend their food source. Having multiple feeders throughout your yard is a great way to attract more birds.

There are a few things to consider when choosing oriole feeders for your backyard. Because of their specific food preferences, oriole food has to be offered in special feeders. When offering fruit, you can use a platform to attach fruit halves of oranges, peaches, and apples or place them on a tree with a nail.

Like hummingbirds, orioles are attracted to nectar. But you will need a special bird feeder for feeding

nectar to orioles. A hummingbird feeder is not a good choice since an oriole's beak will not fit into the feeding ports. Fortunately, nectar feeders made for orioles are available.

Your local nature or birding shop probably carries oriole nectar, however it is very easy to make yourself. The basic solution is one part sugar and six pars water. Many commercial oriole nectars have orange food coloring added. The food does not need to be orange as long as the oriole feeder is orange.

The ideal oriole feeder is designed to accommodate jelly, nectar and a slice of fruit. Orioles are particular to grape jelly and orange marmalade. Oriole feeders with these accommodations, store the nectar in the bottom, the jelly on the lid and the fruit slice attached in the middle. Mealworms are another favorite with orioles and are also a good source of protein. You can purchase mealworms for oriole food at any well-stocked bird supply store. The mealworms can be offered in an oriole feeder designed to dispense this delicacy.

Keeping your oriole feeder clean is very important if you want the orioles to return. Small, soft bristle brushes work well for getting into all the corners. It is a good practice to clean it between fillings. Just clean with warm water and rinse.

Setting up a wild bird habitat in your yard will bring nature close to you. And having orioles in your yard will make backyard bird watching even more enjoyable. Once you set up your first oriole bird feeder you will see that one is not enough. Having more feeders will attract more birds, thus providing even more birding fun.

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bird houses - bird watching - Oriole Feeders

Image via Wikipedia

Bird Watching Guide - Oriole Feeders
By Preddy Boise

There are many beautiful birds in the world, but the bright orange color of the Oriole is one of America’s more beautiful summer time visitors. These birds love to sip nectar from flowers and other flowering plants. Besides flower nectar they also love grape jelly, and fruits. While you can watch them eating their nectar straight from the garden flowers, you might enjoy seeing them at Oriole feeders as well.

Oriole feeders resemble hummingbird feeders in that there are little wells that the Orioles can drink their nectar from. These specialized feeders allow the Orioles better access to the nectar. Their bright orange coloring can be detected by Orioles even from a great distance.

The best type of Oriole feeder will have both a bee, and ant guard around it to keep these insects away. Should you leave your Oriole feeder untended then the bees will fight the Orioles for possession of the nectar stand. Therefore it’s wise to invest in a bee and ant guard for any Oriole feeders that you buy.

The Oriole feeder should have a built-in moat so that there is water between the ants and the nectar at all times. A nectar scale on your new Oriole feeders will help you to gauge how much nectar there is in the feeders. A feeder that has perches around the edge will give you the opportunity to view the Orioles without any distractions. The most important feature of the feeder is

that it should be easy to clean. This is very important because an unclean feeder will allow mold to grow on, and in it.

The best time to clean your feeders is every 1 to 3 days. You’ll need to remove all of the left-over nectar and any fruits that are on the feeder. Then rinse out the feeder by washing it with warm water. Adding a handful of uncooked rice to the water and shaking the feeder tube will remove any excess nectar stuck to the sides. Once your Oriole feeders are clean and you are sure that no mold is growing on them, you can refill the feeders with nectar.

Should you prefer you can put grape jelly into your feeders instead. However don’t put food coloring or other dyes as these can be dangerous to the Orioles. A possible recipe for grape jelly follows. Use 1 part water and 1 part grape jelly. Mix them together until it resembles a thick juice. If you want you can use a blender to get the right consistency. Afterwards using a funnel pour the grape jelly juice into the Oriole feeders. Keep the rest of the mixture in the refrigerator.

Another good idea is to place an Orange halve on a twig, or try placing your Oriole feeders in a patch of bright-orange flowers as they’re attracted to orange more than any other color. These few simple steps along with your Oriole feeders are all that is required for attracting the bright Orioles to your garden.

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