Log in

View Full Version : Hooded Orioles nesting in my PK


momoese
05-05-2016, 03:50 PM
We noticed this beautifully colored bird hanging around the banana gardens these last few weeks. Took a photo and got a positive ID as Hooded Oriole. They are a migratory bird that likes to nest in bananas and palms. Then we spotted the female and got photos her too. Next we noticed they were doing something under the banana leaves, thought maybe they were eating bugs but nope, they had begun nest building in a banana leaf that hangs over my driveway in front my garage that I work out of daily. The odd thing is that they are super skittish and very camera shy, so why the driveway? That night I BBQ'd maybe 10 feet from the nest site. The next day they started building in the other garden at the rear of the yard and away from the garage. So I went and bought a bird bath and left food out for them. Then they disappeared for a day. Though maybe having other birds around the nest because of the bath scared them off. But they came back, watched some birds bathing and went back to nest building! We are really excited to have them here and as tough as it will be I'll try not to disturb them too much, although I do need to harvest a PK bunch on the next plant over in the next few weeks.

Here are some pics.

The male
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/13119784_995438510491724_2091146607286486850_o_zpsfkdxwxsr.jpg

The female
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/13147739_995936837108558_7672553642763549486_o_zpsbfywuyoz.jpg

The beginning of a nest. Notice how they take threads from a palm tree and sew them into the bottom of the leaf on both sides.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/13048001_995667970468778_2906153186941712034_o_zpsyw1u6fxx.jpg

The nest in the rear garden as of this afternoon. See how they connect the two sides to make a hanging basket that will be filled with stuff. Possibly dog fur as we have plenty around form our Aussies.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/_DSC0659_zpsfhtz0ggu.jpg

I'll update the tread later if they are successful at making babies.

a.hulva@coxinet.net
05-05-2016, 05:53 PM
If they are Orioles they like Oranges. Cut in half and leave out face up. I also use hummingbird or Oriole syrup in a Oriole feeder. Lowes :03:

barbc
05-05-2016, 10:23 PM
Gorgeous photos. Keep posting! You are lucky!:goteam:

Jose263
05-06-2016, 08:57 AM
Ditto - you are lucky they picked your nanas- - really neat how they nest

Rmplmnz
05-13-2016, 08:20 PM
Awesome!

Stonecutter
05-14-2016, 12:27 AM
Beautiful birds and great job of photographing them!! It's really interesting how they sew threads in the leaves and make hanging baskets.

momoese
06-07-2016, 01:41 PM
Just a quick update, they hatched 3 chicks a few weeks ago. They are all healthy and growing feathers now. I got a video of them a few days after they hatched so I'll upload and share it later. I have several videos actually but it's really hard to get the chicks in focus with my phone taped to the end of a 8' wooden stake squished under a banana leaf that is partially shredded and keeps me from moving the camera back away from them to a good focusing distance.

momoese
06-09-2016, 07:04 PM
Well they flew the coop this morning. One ended up in my rear neighbors very large mango tree, another next door in a another tree, and one had some troubles flying and ended up on the grass where my cat almost got it. I put rubber gloves and was able to catch it and relocate it to my plumeria where it tried to fly again after mom had a chat with it, but ended up in my bamboo. Both parents have been either trying to locate it or just yelling at it to FLY all day since! Anyway here is the not so great flyer on my plumeria. I'll probably see them back next year which I greatly look forward to!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/13416994_1017415338294041_3183013123538740339_o_zps6fgwtc5k.jpg

momoese
06-10-2016, 10:41 AM
One of the babies that could fly showed up yesterday evening for a little photo op.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m161/momoese/_DSC1060_zpsu2osowqf.jpg

momoese
06-10-2016, 11:41 AM
Video of the chicks 1 or 2 days after hatching.
https://youtu.be/Qp7yKvZGTlk