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round in shape, it only takes a fe
Hi Gayle
With a few hundred starlings here daily I also can sympathize. I only have
one (f) Balt. oriole that I'm trying to get through the winter this year.
The other 7-8 decided to move on before the weather set in in late Nov. When
my flock is large I feed in multiple locations spread apart enough to reduce
pressure (but it will never eliminate it). I've had one indivual bird able
keep 5 other orioles and about 40 starlings from feeding at 4 locations that
were wide spread (40' from closest and furthest) for a few days. You haven't
seen a scrappy defender of your Oriole food until you've had a A. Robin lay
claim to the food source.
The first solution that works for me has more to do with location of the
food. I've found that Rare ("sensitive") birds that try to over winter will
become greater risk takers. This works great in my/our favour. I feed my
Orioles on my window ledge feeder witch just happens to be to close for
comfort for the starlings. From time to time I have to discourage a couple
of brave ones but rarely. My window feeder is about 3' long and I've placed
3 pins (nails, wire coat hangers) along its outside edge. This can be a very
completive area for food but has allowed for a more important finding for
survival of the weaker birds. I have limited food supplies available to me
to offer these birds so the best hands down for me has been Globe Grapes.
Kept in the freezer until needed for the feeders. Not only does this make it
easier to keep the pricey food on hand (I just finished off the last of my
10 month old stock), it eliminates waste and most importantly the birds
prefer the sweeter (pre frozen and thawed in some warm water) grapes. After
a couple of days of feeding the skins of the grapes gather at the base of
the nails and I use to clean these off to make room for more grapes. I've
been able to study the interaction of the birds feeding on my feeders for
quite some time now and find that if you allow the grape skins to build up
it reduces the food protection and aggression towards each other. Notice I
said reduce! Now allowing the skins build up has a couple of benefits. It
ensures that there's always a food source for all the birds. While the
grapes are fresh there tends to be some competition but as the fruit are
reduced skins the aggressive birds tend to allow the submissive birds to
feed on the leftovers, witch are as nutritious. Because the skins are always
available there's always a food source this lessens the need/desire to
protect it. This works out great If the birds arrive early or you're late
getting the food out. The window feeder works well for us also because it
allows access to feed in any and all weather. We also have an Oriole nectar
feeder hung outside the window that I put in a (tepid) grape juice and sugar
mix (starlings don't bother this).
Another benefit of the up close feeding is that you can really study each
bird to see how it's doing with all the stress' our cold winter present.
Sorry for the long response
Hope some of this info is helpful.
All the Best
Tom K
Canso
----- Original Message -----
From: Susann Myers
To: Gayle MacLean ; naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 12:49 AM
Subject: [NatureNS] Re: Baltimore Oriole Update
Hi, Gayle.
These problems sound so familiar to me, I do sympathize. It looked from the
photos you posted the other day as if the brighter oriole is a first-winter
male and the other is a first-winter female, and the male appeared to be
driving the female away. I have also found in my yard that the males are
more aggressive about the food, and the females have a lower winter survival
rate. It is likely the pressure from the starlings that is making the
oriole so aggressive.
I solved this problem by presenting the mealworms in enough locations at the
same time (inside cages) that the orioles all got an opportunity to have
their share. I also put the mealworms out at the same time each day, at
first light, so all the orioles were there waiting for them at once. It
took some juggling, and I had to make adjustments occasionally to keep
things balanced, but it did work. The females tended to all use certain
feeding cages, and the males the others (the preferred locations, closest to
shrubbery). A friend told me one day, when I complained about the latest
adjustment, that I couldn't micromanage them, but in fact that was just what
it took - watching each day to see which orioles showed up, how many went to
each cage etc., and making adjustments accordingly in the number of feeding
locations, the number of mealworms in each one, and so on.
I have lots of the wire netting if you want to pick some up and make a
second enclosure (I have loaned out the second cage like yours, for the
present). If you make it round in shape, it only takes a few minutes and a
few twist ties to turn the wiring into a cage - I'd be glad to help.
I also found that the orioles showed up just a few minutes earlier than the
starlings in the morning, so at dawn I could put one dish of mealworms on
top of each cage, and one inside, and the orioles got them all. but my
ratio of orioles to starlings was higher, the orioles formed a gang of their
own, so that might not work for you.
Have you tried a 50/50 mixture of grape jelly and melted soft suet (my
recipe)? It is very appealing to the orioles - smells like a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich when it's still warm, and covers all the major food
groups! If you put some in each of 2 feeding cages, and the cages were far
enough apart, both orioles should get some.
I'll be home on the week-end, but if you want to come before that and take
some netting, just help yourself. If you let me know you were coming, I
could leave out the wire cutters.
Hope this helps,
Susann
----- Original Message -----
From: Gayle MacLean
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca ; nsbird list
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 8:45 PM
Subject: [NS-RBA] re: [NatureNS] red winged blackbird/Baltimore Oriole
Update
Sorry, you weren't able to photograph the RW Blackbird
Was at Sullivan's Pond today, did not see the American Coots, but did see 1
Eurasian Wigeon.
The 2 Baltimore Orioles that have been visiting my feeders seem to be doing
reasonably alright, here at my backyard feeders.
I am a little concerned about one though. One is very aggressive-- and
whenever possible, blocks the other from entering the enclosure (where I
present the mealworms) at all. Am now offering 2 mealworm trays twice a day
when possible (the J.O.B. does get in the way, however, no matter how early
in the day), one in the enclosure & one in the open on a large rock nearby,
but competed for, & usually, won over, by the Starlings that eat absolutely,
EVERYTHING! I do think one may be starving (despite the concord grape &
homemade suet, I've been offering) as I did see bright