In autumn, Baltimore (also know as Northern Orioles) migrate south to warmer regions such as Central America, the Caribbean islands, or Northern Columbia and Northwestern Venezuela. In April and May, they return north again to begin raising the next generation of Baltimore Orioles. The mother birds incubate the eggs for 11 to 14 days within protective, sack-like, nests which they have crafted and suspended among the outer branches of trees such as oaks, maples and elms. The male keeps close to the nest during this time, occasionally bringing food to the female or guarding the nest during her brief forays off the nest to feed. Both parents bring food to the babies once they’ve hatched and they even continue to feed the youngsters for several weeks after they’ve left the nest, a fledging event that happens 11 – 14 days after hatching. The orioles’ homes look somewhat similar to the grey, football-shaped hanging nests of white-faced hornets. This resemblance may help confuse and discourage potential nest predators (such as raccoons or crows) who might otherwise venture onto the swaying branches in search of orioles for dinner.
We encourage you to learn more about these birds complex lives and their ingenious skills and behaviors. Books such as Secrets of the Nest by Joan Dunning, 1994, The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, 2001, or Into the Nest by Laura Erickson and Marie Read, 2015 might be enjoyable references to support this process.