{"id":4732,"date":"2016-05-01T10:18:47","date_gmt":"2016-05-01T14:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=4732"},"modified":"2021-01-14T21:31:10","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T02:31:10","slug":"baltimore-oriole-bursts-onto-spring-scene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/baltimore-oriole-bursts-onto-spring-scene\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltimore Oriole Bursts Onto the Spring Scene"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine a cold, grey spring morning in the woods: the promised sun has disappeared behind a fog of clouds, the damp chilling breeze is off the lake, a million gnats and midges cling onto anything warm including your hair and face. The shrubs and brush are painted with tones of dust grey and mud brown and only a few leaves are tentatively unfurling on the honeysuckle bushes. Then suddenly you see a bird in brilliant navel orange and shiny-new-car black plumage. It\u2019s surprising how simply seeing the first Oriole of spring can turn a bleak day into a hope-filled one!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4730\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleonNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x365.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Male on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"400\" height=\"365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleonNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x365.jpg 400w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleonNaturalCrooksDotCom-200x183.jpg 200w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleonNaturalCrooksDotCom-329x300.jpg 329w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>What Can an Oriole Find to Eat in Early Spring?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleCallingOnNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4722\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleCallingOnNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x367.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Calling On NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"400\" height=\"367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleCallingOnNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x367.jpg 400w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleCallingOnNaturalCrooksDotCom-200x183.jpg 200w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleCallingOnNaturalCrooksDotCom-327x300.jpg 327w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleCallingOnNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><em><br \/>\nThis male didn&#8217;t sing while I was in the park, but he was calling fairly steadily.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When the Orioles first arrived back near my parents\u2019 home, they used to be seen attacking the blossoms on the fruit tree next door. We were never entirely clear whether the birds were after the insects and bees visiting the blossoms, or whether they were after the nectar in the flowers themselves. Either way, the vivid orange and black birds among the pink and white petals made a pretty and interesting spectacle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleCrisponNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4729\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleCrisponNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x381.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Male Crisp on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"400\" height=\"381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleCrisponNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x381.jpg 400w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleCrisponNaturalCrooksDotCom-200x190.jpg 200w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleCrisponNaturalCrooksDotCom-315x300.jpg 315w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleMaleCrisponNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><em><br \/>\nThose fuzzy smudges are some of the dozens of midges caught in a spider&#8217;s web.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleTailonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4731\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleTailonNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x330.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Tail on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"400\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleTailonNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x330.jpg 400w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleTailonNaturalCrooksDotCom-200x165.jpg 200w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleTailonNaturalCrooksDotCom-363x300.jpg 363w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleTailonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Many people do put out orange halves and even special nectar feeders for returning Baltimore Orioles. The birds do enjoy visiting them and having a sweet boost.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4727\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersonNaturalCrooksDotCom-373x400.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Hunting Leaf Clusters on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"373\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersonNaturalCrooksDotCom-373x400.jpg 373w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersonNaturalCrooksDotCom-187x200.jpg 187w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersonNaturalCrooksDotCom-280x300.jpg 280w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The male Baltimore Oriole I was watching on this last day of April, though, was definitely looking for insects. He hopped and flew from shrub to bush and dove into each cluster of dead leaves dangling there.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersBonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4726\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersBonNaturalCrooksDotCom-288x400.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Hunting Leaf Clusters B on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"288\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersBonNaturalCrooksDotCom-288x400.jpg 288w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersBonNaturalCrooksDotCom-144x200.jpg 144w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersBonNaturalCrooksDotCom-216x300.jpg 216w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersBonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersAonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4725\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersAonNaturalCrooksDotCom-292x400.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Hunting Leaf Clusters A on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"292\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersAonNaturalCrooksDotCom-292x400.jpg 292w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersAonNaturalCrooksDotCom-146x200.jpg 146w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersAonNaturalCrooksDotCom-219x300.jpg 219w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleHuntingLeafClustersAonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 292px) 100vw, 292px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I tried to think of what he might find: cocoons, resting insects, early moths, even some types of bees or wasps. Whatever he was after, he did find some, as several times he paused to gulp something down.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4728\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x332.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Leaves on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"400\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x332.jpg 400w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-200x166.jpg 200w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-361x300.jpg 361w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleContortionsonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4723\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleContortionsonNaturalCrooksDotCom-276x400.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Contortions on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"276\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleContortionsonNaturalCrooksDotCom-276x400.jpg 276w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleContortionsonNaturalCrooksDotCom-138x200.jpg 138w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleContortionsonNaturalCrooksDotCom-207x300.jpg 207w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleContortionsonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<em>Quite the contortion!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleBackonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4721\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleBackonNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x326.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Back on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"400\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleBackonNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x326.jpg 400w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleBackonNaturalCrooksDotCom-200x163.jpg 200w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleBackonNaturalCrooksDotCom-368x300.jpg 368w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleBackonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleEyeOnNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4724\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleEyeOnNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x390.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Baltimore Oriole Eye On NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"400\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleEyeOnNaturalCrooksDotCom-400x390.jpg 400w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleEyeOnNaturalCrooksDotCom-200x195.jpg 200w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleEyeOnNaturalCrooksDotCom-308x300.jpg 308w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BaltimoreOrioleEyeOnNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While I was watching the Oriole work, for a brief time, I also got to watch a Brown Thrasher as well. I had thought that the Thrashers had already moved through and out of the park, so it was a pleasant bonus.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BrownThrasherThroughHoneysuckleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4720\" src=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BrownThrasherThroughHoneysuckleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-394x400.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Brown Thrasher Through Honeysuckle Leaves on NaturalCrooksDotCom\" width=\"394\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BrownThrasherThroughHoneysuckleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-394x400.jpg 394w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BrownThrasherThroughHoneysuckleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BrownThrasherThroughHoneysuckleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-197x200.jpg 197w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BrownThrasherThroughHoneysuckleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom-295x300.jpg 295w, https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/BrownThrasherThroughHoneysuckleLeavesonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px\" \/><\/a><em><br \/>\nThis Brown Thrasher preferred to skulk in the tulgey.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I hope my next bleak spring day turns out to be such a sunny one!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/why-rusty-red-thrasher-bird-silent-in-dead-leaves\/\">A Brown Thrasher Works Silently Through the Woods<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/what-brown-black-dark-butterfly-row-orange-white-spots-wing-edges-ontario\/\">A Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong> Join In<\/strong><br \/>\nAre the Baltimore Orioles back in your backyard? Does their vivid colouring make your day brighter? Please share your sighting with a comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida Sunshine wings into Ontario. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[498,25,499],"class_list":["post-4732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-focus","tag-baltimore-oriole","tag-birds","tag-orioles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4732"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8419,"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4732\/revisions\/8419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}