Dos & Don'ts of Oriole Feeding

I thought I had timed this blog to publish just before the orioles arrived, but several have already shown up in Ontario! If you don't have your feeders out yet, now is definitely the time to do so. Before you run out to buy food and hang your feeders, check out our dos and don'ts of oriole feeding to help keep the birds healthy and happy this season.

Baltimore Oriole feeding from Oriole Flower Feeder

DO clean your feeders often and keep the food fresh
All bird feeders should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to help mitigate the spread of illnesses, but nectar, fruit, and jelly feeders in particular can become bacteria breeding grounds very quickly if not properly maintained. Plus, orioles are notoriously messy eaters and all that jelly and orange pulp smeared on the feeders doesn't make for very nice photos. Taking this into consideration, along with the current spread of avian flu*, it's important to wash and disinfect your feeders every time you change out the food. In the burning heat of the summer, we suggest this be done every 2-3 days.  

* Please note: There is no need to stop watching, feeding or attracting birds to your yard because of the avian flu. There is no evidence humans are at risk of contracting avian flu from backyard birds or bird feeding. There is no known risk of becoming infected with avian flu from bird feeders or baths. In North America, the wild birds most likely to harbour avian flu or spread it are gulls, ducks and other waterfowl. The backyard birds that visit our feeders appear to be significantly less susceptible and much less likely to become a source of the virus. No human avian flu infections have occurred in North America as a result of the current outbreak in wild birds or domestic poultry. Click here to read more.

DON'T use nectar with artificial colours or flavours
Dyes have been included in commercial oriole and hummingbird nectar mixes for years, with claims to better attract the birds to your feeders. While the colours red and orange certainly are attractants, adding them to the food is unnecessary and harmful. There have been no official studies published on the effects synthetic dyes have on birds, but there is enough information about their negative effects on humans that it is best to err on the side of caution and ditch them all together. Instead, opt for feeders like WBU Oriole and Hummingbird Feeders that have orange and red on them, and be sure to include brightly coloured native flowers like cardinal flower in your gardens. Many ornithologists and wildlife organizations around the world, including Cornell Lab of Ornithology, condemn the use of synthetic dyes in nectar. "There is no research that proves red dye is safe for hummingbirds, and very compelling anecdotal information from experienced, licensed rehabbers that hummers who have been fed dyed food have higher mortality and suffer tumors of the bill and liver. - Cornell Lab of Ornithology". While this was strictly speaking of hummingbirds, no studies have been done on orioles either so the same could be true for them. 

Here is our recipe for the best and easiest oriole and hummingbird nectar:

• Add 4 parts boiled water to 1 part white table sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool before filling feeder. Nectar can be stored in the fridge for one week. It is important to use only white table sugar (no substitutes; brown sugar, organic sugar, etc) as this is what is most similar to sugars found in natural nectar. 

Baltimore Oriole, female at nest

DO create oriole-friendly habitat
There's so much more to attracting orioles and other birds to your yard than simply providing food. Offering food is a great way to draw them in, but to create a truly bird-friendly habitat you'll need to consider a few things such as providing a consistent water source, planting native plants*, bird-proofing your windows, and (if a cat owner) keeping kitty inside. You may also choose to offer nesting material to the birds in your yard. If you would like to do this be sure to only offer safe materials such as WBU Nesting Material, moss, grass clippings, twigs, and other natural materials, and avoid offering harmful materials like yarn, string, cellophane, human hair, or chemically treated pet fur.

* Why native plants vs. introduced non-native plants? Native plants are truly the foundation of any wildlife-supporting habitat. These plants know the land. They know our wildlife, and our wildlife know them. They co-exist with our natural species, rather than compete with them. Native plants also help to stabilize soil, and typically require less water and management in comparison to non-native plants so they make for lower maintenance gardening. Planting a mix of native flowering and non-flowering plants in your yard is a great way to support insect populations for orioles and other birds to feed on, and also to provide natural sources of nectar to attract orioles and hummingbirds to your yard.

DON'T use pesticides on your property
Pesticides and insecticides pose huge risks to orioles and all insectivorous species. Chemical build up in the environment eventually affects all species, large and small, but impact orioles more quickly because of their feeding habits. Orioles consume and come into contact with chemical sprays while feeding on insects in the affected areas, and can easily become poisoned from exposure to high levels of these toxic chemicals. Pesticides and insecticides also eliminate insects, which make up the bulk of orioles' diet. Orioles (and most other Ontario-native species) rely on insects such as caterpillars, spiders, and beetles, as their protein source and main diet for their young - who are fed every 20-30 minutes! 

Downy Woodpecker & Baltimore Oriole feeding on a Bug, Nut & Berry Cylinder

DO offer a variety of foods
Orioles are omnivores, and feed on a number of foods in the wild including insects, buds and petals, nectar, and fruit. Two of their favourite backyard offerings are oranges and jelly, but they'll also eat homemade nectar, mealworms, sunflower chips, peanut halves, suet, Bark Butter, and Bark Butter Bits. During migration periods it is especially common to see orioles by passing their favourite sweets and going straight for protein packed suet or Bark Butter to replenish lost calories after their long trip north or bulk up before heading south for winter. Mealworms are a great option to feed all season long, and will be especially appreciated in the thick of nesting season when demanding babies are looking for a constant food source from their parents. Live mealworms are preferred by most birds, but freeze-dried can be appealing as well, especially when offered in seed cylinder form (shown above).

* PRO TIP: Keep a close eye on your feeders for non-oriole guests like Scarlet or Summer Tanagers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and other fruit loving species!

DON'T feed orioles if you aren't able to maintain frequent cleanings
Bird feeding can be a rewarding hobby for both parties involved when done properly. We get to see the birds up close, and they get easy access to supplemental food when they need it. But bird feeding can also be a selfish hobby if our interests take priority over the best interests of the birds we're offering food to. Sometimes life gets busy and we forget about our feeders, understandably. If that becomes the case, just take the feeders down and try again when you're able to commit the time to proper feeding and feeder maintenance. Rest assured that if you are unable to continue feeding for any reason, the birds will survive on their own.

Now that you've read our dos & don'ts of oriole feeding - get out there and enjoy those healthy and happy orioles! Be sure to share your sightings, photos, or questions with us in our Facebook group, we love hearing from you!

Happy trails!
- Shayna