Baltimore Oriole Feeding Question (2 Viewers)

[JCO in PA.]

I'm looking for some advice from experienced Oriole feeders. I've had the apparently common experience of attracting Orioles with oranges and grape jelly, but only for a week or two, then they disappear. When I look for information about when to switch from sweet foods to proteins (mealworms) the standard line is "in the summer." Wow, that really narrows it down, doesn't it?

So I guess my question is, for all you folks who have success feeding Orioles all season long, is there any kind of schedule you follow? Or do you have any other tips for keeping Orioles around after they first arrive? I live in central Pennsylvania and I usually see my first Oriole a few days plus or minus of May 1st.

Thanks for any help, folks.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

Hopefully someone will be able to help soon.

 

[jmepler]

Baltimore Orioles seem to switch to insects when they start feeding young. If they arrive the beginning of May, allowing for an 11 to 14 day incubation period, they would be feeding young mid May. A week after their arrival you could offer both, then pull your sweet foods once they no longer are interested.

 

[Lonewolf374]

I'm looking for some advice from experienced Oriole feeders. I've had the apparently common experience of attracting Orioles with oranges and grape jelly, but only for a week or two, then they disappear. When I look for information about when to switch from sweet foods to proteins (mealworms) the standard line is "in the summer." Wow, that really narrows it down, doesn't it?

So I guess my question is, for all you folks who have success feeding Orioles all season long, is there any kind of schedule you follow? Or do you have any other tips for keeping Orioles around after they first arrive? I live in central Pennsylvania and I usually see my first Oriole a few days plus or minus of May 1st.

Thanks for any help, folks.

You don't say where you live I'm in Vermont, I have lots of Orioles they never touch the oranges but love the grape jelly I switch to mealworms in June n they leave Vermont by the end of July

 

[JerryBr]

Here in MN the feeder with grape jelly goes out in early May. We had 3 or 4 feeding and then they disappeared. About 3 weeks later(I had kept the feeder full of jelly) a male came around. As soon as he came back to eat I put one container of jelly and one of dried meal worms in my 2 container oriole feeder. Once they came back in force it appeared they liked a little jelly with their meal worms. Sad to say they hung around for a couple of weeks and boom....they are gone. Best batch of orioles we've ever had.