Baltimore Oriole

A female Baltimore Oriole looks to have struck the mother load of nesting material... a cassette tape. It would appear to be a good nesting material for the unique pouch-shaped nest... long and strong. However, it could entangle her in the process.

In that case, it's unlikely the male Baltimore Oriole could be of any help to her. Orioles, as other bird species, know only natural nest building materials...not audio tape.

There is no reason to think she met a bad ending with this material, but strange outcomes can happen.

Last summer I saw a female Baltimore Oriole weaving her nest with discarded fishing line. She was having difficulty threading long lengths of line and got entangled in the process.

She eventually won this battle and built a strong nest with it.

(Click any picture to enlarge)

Be grateful if you get Baltimore Orioles or any orioles for that matter. They are beautiful to see and melodious to hear.

They will visit your feeder for orange halves, but are particularly fond of grape jelly.

There is little harm in feeding the birds, but they don't need yarn, string or plastic. Let them find their own 'natural' nest building material.

The Baltimore Orioles are in Wisconsin for a short time now... enjoy them.

Watch for Orchard Orioles at the same time. They'll all start to leave in July.

In other parts of the US look for:
Hooded Oriole
Altamira Oriole
Spot-breasted Oriole
Audubon's Oriole
Scott's Oriole
Black-vented Oriole
Streak-backed Oriole
Bullock's Oriole

Allan

Credit: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds