# Where are my orioles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541 "2011-06-06T20:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/1 "2011-06-06T20:11:13Z")
They arrived (north central Iowa) about five-six weeks ago and up until last week, they’ve been at the feeder every day. One day we had five at the same time. But we haven’t seen one for several days, and a friend who also feeds them says she hasn’t seen any either. Were we just a way-station? They don’t hang around all summer? I’ve looked at several sites but can’t find anything except migration routes. I don’t know whether to keep stocking the feeder, or put it away for next year. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/2 "2011-06-06T20:26:10Z")
If they have nestlings, it’s possible they may be spending most of their time hunting up insects because the growing young need a lot of protein. What’s in your feeders? They may come back once the nutritional requirements of the young change. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/3 "2011-06-06T20:39:14Z")
Grape jelly, half an orange, and sugar water. Should we add anything else to help them out? I’ll keep the feeder up. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/4 "2011-06-06T21:03:25Z")
From [here:](http://www.stokesbirdsathome.com/birding/feeding/feedingpages/feeding108.html) > [@](#): > > Orioles often eat fruit and can be attracted with orange halves placed on platform feeders, a deck railing, or nailed to a tree. It is important to have the oranges available just as the orioles arrive, which is around April 1st in the South and April 15th to May 1st in the northern half of the country. Some orioles seem to be more attracted to oranges when they first return from their wintering areas but switch to an insect diet soon after. Other orioles seem to eat oranges throughout their breeding season. > [@](#): > > In addition to fruit and sugar water, orioles can be attracted to grape jelly and mealworms. Offer the jelly in a small dish placed on a platform. Mealworms can be placed in a small container, but make sure it has straight sides that are high enough (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches), enough so that the mealworms cannot climb out. Mealworms are found in pet stores and wild bird stores. Many orioles feed the mealworms to their nestlings, who require a good protein source. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/5 "2011-06-06T21:16:04Z")
Oh, _ **birds!** _ You’re talking about _birds!_ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/6 "2011-06-06T21:19:23Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > Oh, _ **birds!** _ You’re talking about _birds!_ If we were talking about Orioles, you wouldn’t have to ask. They’ve been in the cellar for a while. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/7 "2011-06-06T21:33:40Z")
:eek: _You keep your orioles in the cellar?_ I keep mine right here, where I can keep an eye on them. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/8 "2011-06-06T21:36:04Z")
EW! Googled for mealworms and found a photo. Just ew. They’re gonna have to make do with the oranges and jelly. (Sorry about the other orioles.) ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/9 "2011-06-06T22:35:42Z")
Minneapolis here and I’ve seen a few the last couple weeks. For what it’s worth to you. ---
**Author:** ![flano1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/10 "2011-06-07T23:48:03Z")
hiding in shame for being out bopped by a rockin’ robin. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/11 "2011-06-08T01:43:36Z")
Or they could have packed up all their care and woe . . . ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/12 "2011-06-08T17:12:36Z")
they host Tampa Bay this weekend, then they’re off for a series in Toronto. BTW it’s my sense that, given a particular reason, a Blue Jay would kick an Oriole’s ass. Tampa Bay’s the (devil) rays, so that’s just an odd face-off. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-orioles/584541/13 "2011-06-09T02:35:48Z")
I’ve got two orioles on my chest.