While sitting quietly waiting for warblers, I enjoyed watching a Baltimore Oriole begin building its nest.
Another Reason to Leave Your Goldenrod Standing Until the Late Spring
When the Baltimore Oriole first flew in and landed a few metres ahead of me among the dry stalks of last year’s Goldenrod, I thought it was looking for food. Within a minute, though, I realized while it was after fibre it wasn’t worried about staying regular. This female Baltimore Oriole was pulling strands of fibre to use to build her nest.
What Other Natural Fibres Do Orioles Use to Weave Their Nests?
I remember reading that a bird lover nearby always left her Swamp Milkweed stalks standing until the late spring. Each year, she watches the Baltimore Orioles come to pull them apart and take the long fibrous strands off to weave with.
AllAboutBirds says that other natural fibres include grasses and grapevine bark. Of course, nowadays they also will include knitting wool, string, and other manmade strands.
I will have to keep an eye on the willow tree in this park as I have often found the nest swaying gently there. For now, I left her in peace as she worked in the spring sunshine.
In time, she will create something similar to this one from another year.
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Have you watched a Robin gathering mud or a Hummingbird collecting spider webs? Please share your nest-builder’s stories with a comment.