The Orchard Oriole is here.
Why has he come? To cheer, to cheer--C. C. M.
The Orchard Oriole has a general range throughout the United States,
spending the winter in Central America. It breeds only in the eastern
and central parts of the United States. In Florida it is a summer
resident, and is found in greatest abundance in the states bordering the
Mississippi Valley. This Oriole appears on our southern border about the
first of April, moving leisurely northward to its breeding grounds for a
month or six weeks, according to the season, the males preceding the
females several days.
Though a fine bird, and attractive in his manners and attire, he is not
so interesting or brilliant as his cousin, the Baltimore Oriole. He is
restless and impulsive, but of a pleasant disposition, on good terms
with his neighbors, and somewhat shy and difficult to observe closely,
as he conceals himself in the densest foliage while at rest, or flies
quickly about from twig to twig in search of insects, which, during the
summer months, are his exclusive diet.
The favorite haunts of this very agreeable songster, as his name
implies, are orchards, and when the apple and pear trees are in bloom,
and the trees begin to put out their leaves, his notes have an ecstatic
character quite the reverse of the mournful lament of the Baltimore
species. Some writers speak of his song as confused, but others say this
attribute does not apply to his tones, the musician detecting anything
but confusion in the rapidity and distinctness of his gushing notes.
These may be too quick for the listener to follow, but there is harmony
in them.
In the Central States hardly an orchard or a garden of any size can be
found without these birds. They prefer to build their nests in apple
trees. The nest is different, but quite as curiously made as that of the
Baltimore. It is suspended from a small twig, often at the very
extremity of the branches. The outer part of the nest is usually formed
of long, tough grass, woven through with as much neatness and in as
intricate a manner as if sewed with a needle. The nests are round, open
at the top, about four inches broad and three deep.
It is admitted that few birds do more good and less harm than our
Orchard Oriole, especially to the fruit grower. Most of his food
consists of small beetles, plant lice, flies, hairless caterpillars,
cabbage worms, grasshoppers, rose bugs, and larvÊ of all kinds, while
the few berries it may help itself to during the short time they last
are many times paid for by the great number of insect pests destroyed,
making it worthy the fullest protection.
The Orchard Oriole is very social, especially with the king bird. Most
of his time is spent in trees. His flight is easy, swift, and graceful.
The female lays from four to six eggs, one each day. She alone sits on
the eggs, the male feeding her at intervals. Both parents are devoted to
their young.
The fall migration begins in the latter part of July or the beginning of
August, comparatively few remaining till September.