This first-spring male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) was a busy fella, methodically sorting through all sorts of nest building material as I watched him last week. He would gather some grass, straw and other vegetation, carefully crafting it and arranging it just right, then flying back off to his mate and his tree.
You may have seen a Baltimore Oriole nest, hanging from several points of a tree branch, without evening knowing what it was. The female bird constructs a sack or sock-like container that is carefully woven together with such craftsmanship that they often stay attached to the tree long after the nesting season has concluded. I end up spotting most of mine in the winter, but I am hoping to find my local neighborhood pair’s home while the family is still here this year.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
