Oriole Feeders and JELLY

Some Friday Silliness as the temperatures soar from 6 degrees this A.M. to a blistering 19 at this moment!

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Peanut Butter And Jelly ~ remember the camp song?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "First ya find the peanuts and ya dig 'emYa dig 'em, dig 'emThen you take the

peanuts and ya smash 'emYa smash 'em, smash 'emThen you take the butter and

ya spead it,Ya spead it, spread it.Peanut, peanut butter, and jelly!Peanut, peanut

butter, and jelly!"

A melancholy bird? Oh idle thought! In nature there is nothing melancholy. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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Baltimore oriole Icterus galbula More pictures here!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Then ya find the grapes and ya pick 'emYa pick 'em, pick 'em.Then you take the

grapes and ya smash 'emYa smash 'em. smash 'emThen you take the jelly and ya

spread it,Ya spread it, spread it.Peanut, peanut butter, and jelly!Peanut, peanut

butter, and jelly!"

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My Sweetie got me a gorgeous copper-finished "umbrella" shelters 2 loops that

hold glass jelly cups and 2 metal scrolls that hold orange halves. (Metal spikes

help hold the oranges in place.)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ How neat is this, now not just humming birds…but I need to wait until at least

May. However I did hang it outside as an anticipatory gesture of the daylight

getting longer each and every day.

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To be successful in attracting Orioles you must be diligent about getting feeders up early before they arrive. May 1st is the earliest time and is a great time to start. Orioles migrate at night and are tired and hungry when they arrive. Offering jelly will keep the Orioles around longer so selecting a feeder that offers jelly is a great choice. Also add a water source.(bird bath, fountain, pond, etc.)

With its brilliant orange and black plumage, the Baltimore Oriole's arrival is eagerly awaited by birders each spring migration. Its preference for open areas with tall trees has made it a common inhabitant of parks and suburban areas.

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Neatt Fact I read:

The "orioles" of the Americas were named after similarly-appearing birds in the Old World. The American orioles are not closely related to the true orioles in the family Oriolidae. They are more closely related to blackbirds and meadowlarks. Both New and Old world orioles are brightly colored with red, yellow, and black; have long tails and long pointed bills; build hanging, woven nests; and prefer tall trees around open areas.

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Feeding: Orioles often eat fruit and can be attracted with orange halves placed on platform feeders, a deck railing, or nailed to a tree. It is important to have the oranges available just as the orioles arrive, which is around April 1st in the South and April 15th to May 1st in the northern half of the country. Some orioles seem to be more attracted to oranges when they first return from their wintering areas but switch to an insect diet soon after. Other orioles seem to eat oranges throughout their breeding season.

In addition to fruit and sugar water, orioles can be attracted to grape jelly and mealworms.

Offer the jelly in a small dish placed on a platform.

Mealworms can be placed in a small container, but make sure it has straight sides that are high enough (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches), enough so that the mealworms cannot climb out.

Mealworms are found in pet stores and wild bird stores.

Many orioles feed the mealworms to their nestlings, who require a good protein source.

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"Then ya take the pieces and ya smash 'emYa smash 'em. smash 'em.Then you take

the bread and ya fold itYa fold it, fold itThen you take the sandwich and ya

munch itYa munch it, munch it,(Mumble)Peanut, peanut butter, and jelly!

Peanut, peanut butter and jelly!"

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Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

8 slices bread

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. jelly

2 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. unsalted butter, softened

Spread 4 slices bread with equal portions of jelly.

Spread remaining slices with peanut butter and place on top of jellied bread.

Spread butter on outside of each piece of bread.

Heat a heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat and cook sandwiches 1-2minutes

per side, or until golden.

(Serves 4)

;)