Baltimore Visitors

I don't know anyone who lives in Baltimore, but I feel like I have met a few the last several days.

It started out with a flash of color in the tree by the seed feeder.  Yes, it was a Baltimore Oriole.  They are unusual in my neighborhood, so I wanted to make them welcome.  I put out a half an orange to see if that would attract him.

That led to the moving in of a couple of his cousins.  I have had 8 at a time in the back yard.  So I purchased an Oriole feeder.

I caught this guy moving quickly for his turn at the orange.

They aren't really good at taking turns and usually spend half the energy they get from the feeder fighting off their cousins.

Another surprise happened when this Ruby-throated Hummingbird showed up for his turn.  Nobody told him this was an Oriole feeder, not a Hummingbird feeder.

Then this guy showed up... an Orchard Oriole.  They apparently hang out with their cousins but got left out of the beautiful colors.

Here they both are in the tree.

And taking turns at the orange.  They are fruit eaters so no doubt enjoyed an early taste of fruit in ND.

It has been raining for three days but that doesn't stop the feeding frenzy.  What a beautiful bird.  I am convinced that God likes bright colors, don't you think?

This has happened about three times.  One of them tries to get into the house.  The only thing we can figure is that Marilyn has a bird of paradise flower near the window.  The orange color seems to be attracting them to come and check it out.  I, on the other hand, like to think that she is just saying "thank you" to me for the treats, sort of like the ten lepers but only one came back to say thanks.

I am not sure how long this will last.  It may just be a migratory thing, but for now we are trying to make our visitors from Baltimore feel at home.