| Make your own homemade Oriole bird food to attract | | | | change the fruits often to keep them fresh. |
| more Orioles. | | | | There are oriole feeders on the market that dispense |
| Most Orioles spend their winters in Florida, the | | | | nectar (see recipe below). They are very similar to |
| Caribbean, central Mexico, Central America and the | | | | hummingbird feeders. They are usually orange instead |
| northern part of South America. While there, they | | | | of red. Since orioles don't hover while they eat, the |
| enjoy a steady diet of fruit, caterpillars, insects, spiders | | | | oriole feeders are sturdier and should have a perch. |
| and nectar. | | | | If you are going to use an oriole feeder, consider |
| They return to the United States in the spring for their | | | | making your own homemade Oriole bird food. |
| summer breeding season. When they arrive, they are | | | | Here is an easy recipe: |
| looking for their favorite foods. While it may be difficult | | | | Homemade Oriole bird food Recipe |
| to attract them with caterpillars and insects, you can | | | | 1 part sugar/6 parts water |
| certainly attract orioles with nectar, nuts, suet, and fruits | | | | Bring the water to a boil and then add the sugar. Boil |
| such as oranges, cherries, apples, pears or bananas | | | | until the sugar has dissolved. 1 part sugar to 6 parts |
| and even grape jelly. | | | | water means that if you boil 2 cups of water you will |
| Platform or tray feeders often work best when | | | | need 1/3 cup of sugar. |
| offering foods such as nuts, oranges, cherries, apples, | | | | Let the mix cool before filling your feeder. Store any |
| pears or bananas to orioles. But they should be hung | | | | excess food in your refrigerator until ready to use. |
| from a tree branch or placed on your deck rail instead | | | | There is no need to add food coloring. |
| of on the ground. | | | | It is thought that Orioles are attracted to the color |
| Try using a variety of foods until you determine which | | | | orange (the color of many types of fruit). Try tying |
| food works best. | | | | orange cloth or ribbon on the feeder to catch their |
| I usually set the food out as if it were on a plate: | | | | attention. NEVER use honey (which ferments), or |
| - Half of a grapefruit | | | | artificial sweetener to this homemade oriole bird food |
| - Apple slices | | | | recipe. |
| - Cherries | | | | You can encourage a breeding pair of orioles to build |
| - Small dish of grape jelly | | | | their nest nearby by making some nest building |
| Obviously you will need to keep an eye on the food to | | | | materials available. Hang a suet basket, near your |
| make sure that it doesn't go bad. Most birds feed in | | | | feeding station, filled with cat or dog fur, dryer lint, or |
| the morning and in the evening, so there is no reason | | | | short pieces (3-4 inches) of natural fiber twine and |
| to leave it out during the heat of the day. You should | | | | yarn. |