A new bird has been visiting my feeders in downtown Raleigh today, and I'm thrilled to the point of feeling like the proud father of a newborn. He's absolutely resplendent! I think it's a Baltimore oriole, but I'd welcome a confirmation from any experienced birders out there. (I regret to say, this poor image is the only one I've been able to capture of him.) This unique arrival brings my feeder species count to 13.
What are you feeding to attract this bird? Sure hope there's more around.
Actually, what I feed my birds really isn't much out of the ordinary. In the case of the oriole, it could be your fellow respondent hit on the key attractant, because it so happens my suet cake contains orange.
Aside from this, most of the seed I use is your standard, over-the-counter songbird mix. However, I spike it with a bit of wunder-feed called "Trail Mix," produced by an Indiana company, Morning Song, and available locally from Harris Teeter. The stuff is like crack-cocoaine to birds; they go nuts over it ... which isn't surprising, considering nuts are the prime ingredients (although dried fruit seems to be what makes it so fragrant -- enough so that even I'm tempted to eat some!) At $7 for a five pound bag (complete with datestamp), it's a little pricey to use as my primary feed. But in smaller doses, it's well worth the price for the delight it brings my little horde of feathered chow hounds, who can pack away as much as a pound of seed a day.
the bird was looking for water. Orioles have a preference for oranges. I also read they like suet- home-made with peanut butter and pound cake. If the bird flies away you can eat the leftovers.
Funny you should mention the orange appeal. The suet cake I have out now has orange in it, which it has been feeding on, as well as the seed.
Thanks for the ID confirmation and the tip on GBBC. I've looked into it and plan to participate. (It's less complicated than I'd imagined in the past.)
is living the good life in your yard! If you are offering water for the birds, that is also one of the most tempting and important things to attract them- lots of people forget.
I have been looking at your pictures and I am amazed that in a few photos you have a Bobcat and a Baltimore Oriole. Maybe you should be one of the people they allow to search for the Ivory billed woodpecker...cause you're having one heck of a summer.
You are right- it's a Baltimore Oriole
I was surprised when I saw your photo! I didn't know that Baltimore Orioles were (casual) winter residents of central NC (Birds of the Carolinas). I most often refer to the Peterson Field Guide for range maps and it shows the bird as wintering along costal NC and breeding in our mountains to central areas of North Carolina. In any case, birds will change patterns due to drought and food supplies. Lucky you to have a Baltimore Oriole at your feeder! If you keep food and water available it will probably stick around awhile- especially during this cold weather.