Orioles, beware! I'm hoping to lure one of you in my yard this year.
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| Baltimore Oriole: Photo from carolinabirdclub.org |
Actually, I've only ever seen an oriole in our yard once. I was repainting an ornamental birdbath, went inside for a sip of water, and lo! There was one sitting on top of the birdbath. He flew away with green feet, heh heh. No wonder he didn't come back.
But then I saw a FABULOUS dirt cheap oriole feeder using a wire hanger in my favorite good old Birds and Blooms. This piece of brilliance comes from Alison Auth over at Birdtiques.
How to Make a Homemade Oriole Feeder
1. Bust out your hand muscles and squeeze a wire coat hanger together. You'll be squeezing the two pointy ends in toward each other until they are about an inch apart.
2. Shape the hanger into a rough S-shape.
3. Using wire cutters, carefully snip off the curved ends of the hanger.
4. Slice up some yum-delish oranges. Don't eat too many, or you won't have enough for Step #6!
5. Chop off a small piece of rind from each slice. You'll use these as spacers in the next step.
6. String an orange slice, then a piece of rind, then another orange slice, etc. through both wires.
7. Tie on a colorful ribbon if you choose, and hang her up!
I'm really hopeful that I can snag another oriole with this contraption. I've seen several birds in this garden that I never saw in my previous garden, even though they are only 15 minutes apart!
Do you have orioles in your yard?
Do you have any tips on how to make your garden the oriole hot spot?
That's pretty, too! We don't have orioles here, but if we did you bet I'd do this in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteI loved this idea. I have never seen an Oriole here, but this is a great idea I am going to do today to see what shows up. I bought oranges yesterday.
ReplyDeletewhat a fab idea..I bet they come since they love oranges...I don't feed them but provide quite a spa with my pond...I get them every year bathing and relaxing...can't wait to see who comes a calling in your yard and mine
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful little bird. I have never seen one around here, what a treat to have those in your garden. Crossing my fingers you get some regular little guests this year =)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to give this a try. I've never seen a Oriole around here, but they must be. I'm expecting to end up with a hanger full of rotten fruit in a few days, but fingers crossed for an orange bird!
ReplyDelete@Holley- Maybe you can lure the orioles down South. :)
ReplyDelete@GWGT - Good luck! I hope you get some!
@Donna- Oh, I imagine you get lots of lovely critters at your pond. :)
@Julia- I'm hoping for at least one sighting...I'm shooting for low expectations here.
@Alan- bahaha! No joke! At least it will be a pretty hanger of rotten fruit.