I have been hearing him for a month now; his song a calling card, elusive, warbling high atop the sycamores.
Since our arrival on the Cutoff, I’ve grown familiar with his song, especially when he first arrives, before other songbirds appear. I know to look up to the tops of the ancient trees shading our deck, but, the orioles are hard to find. They are smaller than robins, stay closer to the tree canopies, and camouflage remarkably well considering their color.
Lately, I have heard more than one. The beau, it seems, has found his lady.
On Monday, we saw both. They were flitting above, fussing, in turn on a branch, high above the barn, building a nest, we supposed.
Have you ever seen a Baltimore Oriole? They are brilliant of color; he more vibrant orange than she, as is the nature of birds. Orioles build the most intricate of nests, resembling a sock or purse, impossible to find with the naked eye. We found one, once. Rather, it found us, after a windstorm, resting on the chaise lounge on the deck, it’s handles were gone but its cavity intact. Too damaged to mend, too precious to throw away, it nestles, each year, in our Christmas tree.
I had tossed some very ripe plums onto the unkempt hill we call our compost pile. Mostly leaves and flower clippings, coffee grounds and kitchen scraps find their way to the pile. Over time, we’ve harvested rich, organic matter from this pile that is enriching our soil here on the Cutoff. I was headed to the compost, my arms full of faded peonies, when I saw something dart out of the mound. Orange. A few days later, there were lemon rinds – and another flash of orange. Tom, too, had seen flashes of orange coming from the pile, which is near another mesh of twigs and the long stringy leaves of grasses; a virtual building supply store for the birds and creatures who occupy the Cutoff.
I want to talk to you about such piles of building material, but, will save that for another day. For now, I’ll leave you with a link about Baltimore Orioles, should you care to learn more or to listen to their songs, with a link here and I’ll ask you a question as well.
Do you have any songbirds near you?
The image is from the National Geographic site I’ve linked to, and, yes, I have used it before.
I have at least two pair this year and they are so beautiful. I put out a special feeder for them for the first time and get to seem them fairly regularly. I have yet to find a nest, but one was left in my old cabin, still quite intact. I also have been blessed with two indigo bunting pairs… Life is good, isn’t it?
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I should try an oriole feeder again. Last time, it didn’t draw them. They are the most amazing nests. I look at the one we found and wonder at how they do it. How I would love to see those indigo buntings! Life is, indeed, grand Teresa.
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Maddie and I are fascinated, Penny. That nest is such a cleevr little construction, and it’s hard to imagine anything that brilliant smaller than a robin. Lovely song, too. More sophisticated, but the same pipey feel, as our nuthatch, Maddie says. http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/n/nuthatch/index.aspx
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It is amazing how they build these nests – even with a handle! A good description by Maddie. I like it “the same pipey feel”. I’ll be thinking of this next time I hear Mr. Oriole calling.
Thanks for the link to your nuthatch. We have nuthatch here, but, they are not as pretty as yours, or as vocal. Hi to Maddie. Hope Lulu returns home soon.
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Apologies, clever
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Knew what you meant.
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They are beautiful Penny. How lucky you are. There are some gorgeous song birds here in the Languedoc, but as yet I haven’t identified the ones that entertain us all day from the trees in our garden. Jx
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I am, indeed, Janice. It’s fun to try to identify new birds. I keep a few bird books close-at-hand and refer to them often.
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What gloriously-coloured birds, Penny, and I love their nests. Here in the UK my favourite songbirds are the blackbirds and thrushes. Sadly we have no nightingales. 😦
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Oh, to have a nightingale, Perpetua. I would enjoy that, for sure. Thrushes populate this part of the US, and a few friends have them, but, I have never seen one, or, if I have, didn’t know it. How wonderful that is for you to hear.
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Your American Orioles are so beautiful. Sadly I was never lucky enough to see one on any of our various trips… but I did see my first ever hummingbirds… in Kentucky. I felt so honoured.
The songbird making the most noise here at the moment is a song thrush which either lives in our garden or visits every spring. His song is so varied and unusual that I could sit and listen for ages.
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How lucky you were to have seen the hummingbirds, Cath. I know more people hereabouts who haven’t seen them than those who have. They are such tiny and industrious birds.
How I wish I could hear a song thrush. What a beautiful way to pass the time, perhaps while reading a book.
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Love the orioles and their song. Their nests are always in the tip top to our tallest tree. We have quite a few different birds but the one that comes to mind (as being too near that day anyway) is the robin who was chirping when I was working outside the other day. Honestly, I would have liked to have wrung his neck I got so tired of the chirping! I think mockingbird songs are my favorite. They say they can learn ro make the sound of an alarm clock or an old washing machine or just about anything else. We’re fortunate to have them around.
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It is amazing how high up they build their nests, isn’t it? The robins can certainly go on and on and on, Joyce. They’ve awakened me quite early in the morning at times. Mockingbirds songs are magnificent – I didn’t know how clever they could be, though. Enjoy them, Joyce, and I hope that robin tones it down a bit.
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Songbirds are just the best! As you say, the orioles are hard to find in the trees, but I have had a couple of glimpses of both the Baltimore and the orchard orioles this spring. Another favorite is the bluebird, but I enjoy watching all of the birds. I did have the good fortune of seeing an old oriole nest a couple of winters ago hanging in a bare tree. I was delighted!
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That was good fortune to see an oriole nest actually hanging from a tree. It is absolutely amazing how these little birds construct them, isn’t it, and that they can even make a handle to hang it. I can imagine your delight.
I wish we would attract bluebirds. I have box, a gift from our daughter and son-in-law a few years ago, but, no bluebirds, yet. Just sparrows. Hopefully, one day . . .
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What a beautifully coloured bird, Penny. With your compost heap you are certainly doing the right thing to attract them. The nest reminds me of the macrame hanging baskets we used to make from string in the 70s.
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It is of the most amazing color, Juliet, and yes. That’s it, exactly; macrame. I think we all must have tried our hand at macrame in the 70’s, and here the little orioles are still doing it. That is a fun thing to remember.
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Dear Penny, I have so missed your postings in the three weeks I’ve been absent from reading and commenting on the blogs I follow. But now I’m back and will be here much of the summer–except for a few vacation days in July. And so I’ll have the delight of reading about life at the Cutoff, which, I admit, truly fascinates me.
As to Baltimore Orioles: in fifth grade at St. Mary’s Grade School in Independence, Sister Mary MacCauley began to teach us about reports. She asked us to choose something we really liked and to talk about it for a minute and to show a picture of it.
I chose Baltimore Orioles and talked about their color and their nests. And I drew and colored a picture of one that I’d seen in the World Book Encyclopedia. I was so proud of myself and I loved those orioles!
By the way, I’m now reading the third and most recent “Miss Dimple” book.
I continue to enjoy all the author is helping me remember about those war years on the homefront. Thank you for introducing me to this series. Peace.
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You are welcome here on the Cutoff anytime, Dee. I understand. I’ve not been as regular in my writing or viewing either, of late. Sometimes, life gets in the way, as the saying goes. Thank you, Dee. You make me feel good.
You picked a perfect bird to report on, and how wonderful it is to remember it. I loved those school projects. I did see Mr. Oriole in one of our huge sycamores yesterday. It is the first time I’ve caught such a good sight of him. My neighbors were surely wondering what I was doing, all excited and looking up to the sky.
You’re welcome, Dee. I keep meaning to check that one out of the library. It is nice to hear that Miss Dimple is reminding you about that time. Enjoy!
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What a beautiful little bird and he is smart to come to the cutoff every year!
We have a lot of birds that gather at our birdbath to drink and fluff their feathers. There are robins, cardinals, blue birds, Blue jays, woodpeckers and more that I can’t identify. Our hummingbirds gather at our 4 o’clock plants that are bright yellow and pink. They are amazing creatures. My favorite bird is the Bob White. Have you heard them?
I tell the truth when I say the cats do NOT bother the birds. Our cats prefer chasing prey on the ground, not in the air!
(Did you catch Huey? I was surprised that he is a fly-fisherman on his ranch in Montana. And that he has kept all his clothes from years ago in the videos. He will be in Chicago June 23 at Montrose Harbor on the beach. Be there or be square!) Stay safe in the bad weather headed your way. Our heat index was 102 today. Argh.
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I would be spending all my time gazing out at your birdbath, Marilyn. I’m excited about the hummingbirds and your 4 o’clocks – and I can’t even see them. How fun that must be! One year, in our old house, I got a bee in my bonnet and planted morning glories, 4 o’clocks, and moonflowers in a patch by the kitchen window. So proud was I that I had flowers blooming all day and all night. Had I known that 4 o’clocks attracted hummingbirds, I would have planted more. You’ve given me an idea to plant them next year.
I am sorry to say that I have not heard Bob White – and hope that I someday do.
Those are good cats. I hope they are catching mice.
(I was hoping you would ask. Yes, I did catch Huey – and I was delightfully surprised to find he is a fly-fisherman. I chuckled when he said the original name of the group was Huey Lewis and the American Express. I wish I could see him at Montrose Harbor. A spectacular location! 6 o’clock on a Sunday at one of the prettiest spots in the City. The sun will be setting on the lakefront as he and his band get rolling.
We are currently in the second wave of some nasty storms. Hot today, but, not as hot as you experienced. Stay cool.
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Loved this post Penny. We first saw them when we were staying in Port Aransas Texas,.. the volunteers at the place where we birded put orange halves on tree limbs for them. That was before digital camera/blog. Thanks for shring. (Typed on my IPad while riding in the car, do excuse errosr.
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No prblm. I lke to shrig. You’re funny Sallie – my giggle for the evening.
I’m so pleased that you did, Sallie. I’m sure it was exciting to see the orioles as they came up to feed on the orange halves. They are so beautiful and their songs so distinctive, once you know it is them.
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