File #30: "Laura Nilsen.pdf"
Text
While the Bangor Public Library was closed and we were all encouraged to remain in
our homes, I found I was easily entertained by a Baltimore Oriole also known as a
Northern Oriole. I live in the heavily wooded western side of Corinth, Maine. I have a
large open yard surrounded by very tall trees. The oriole found I had placed the large
lid of a jar on my back deck filled with fruit cocktail and jelly. As I watched him approach
for the first time, he accidently knocked it over onto the deck's floor. He easily hopped
down and began eating, the start of a month-long relationship.
I discovered that using two old glass fruit cups for the fruit cocktail and grape jelly for
one and a slice of orange with a 1/2 cherry in the center of the other was a colorful
attraction for the oriole and also a mockingbird. Soon as I glassed the trees next to my
house I discovered the oriole was building a web-like nest which hung on the end of a
branch of the tall tree. The nest was at least 30 feet off the ground. The female spent
several days stitching branches, and leaves securely to withstand windy and wet
conditions.
Every morning the oriole would call out, waiting for me to produce the two glass
containers for their consumption, especially the grape jelly. They soon welcomed the
baby birds as they hatched and were getting anxious to fly. I worried how they could
start out so high, but one day as I watched with my binoculars, the parent encouraged
them to walk out of the nest and up the branches of the large trees where they flitted all
around for several hours before taking the big first flight! They did hang around for a
while, but the parents never brought them back to the fruit I still offered.
I stopped putting out the food when the only consumers were wasps, bees and ants.
On top of all the excitement of having those bright beautiful birds visiting our deck we
also had two bluebird families and tree swallows.
We have the constant company of hummingbirds which I had been taking for granted
with all the excitement. Our extended property also supports Ruffed grouse, American
bittern, Northern flicker and Woodcock, and many more. So when I was forced to stay
home, it was with a pair of binoculars in one hand and a bird book in the other. I'm glad
I am able to now take out books from the Bangor Library, but my days at home forced
me to enjoy all the wildlife I had right in my own backyard.
Laura Nilsen
-
our homes, I found I was easily entertained by a Baltimore Oriole also known as a
Northern Oriole. I live in the heavily wooded western side of Corinth, Maine. I have a
large open yard surrounded by very tall trees. The oriole found I had placed the large
lid of a jar on my back deck filled with fruit cocktail and jelly. As I watched him approach
for the first time, he accidently knocked it over onto the deck's floor. He easily hopped
down and began eating, the start of a month-long relationship.
I discovered that using two old glass fruit cups for the fruit cocktail and grape jelly for
one and a slice of orange with a 1/2 cherry in the center of the other was a colorful
attraction for the oriole and also a mockingbird. Soon as I glassed the trees next to my
house I discovered the oriole was building a web-like nest which hung on the end of a
branch of the tall tree. The nest was at least 30 feet off the ground. The female spent
several days stitching branches, and leaves securely to withstand windy and wet
conditions.
Every morning the oriole would call out, waiting for me to produce the two glass
containers for their consumption, especially the grape jelly. They soon welcomed the
baby birds as they hatched and were getting anxious to fly. I worried how they could
start out so high, but one day as I watched with my binoculars, the parent encouraged
them to walk out of the nest and up the branches of the large trees where they flitted all
around for several hours before taking the big first flight! They did hang around for a
while, but the parents never brought them back to the fruit I still offered.
I stopped putting out the food when the only consumers were wasps, bees and ants.
On top of all the excitement of having those bright beautiful birds visiting our deck we
also had two bluebird families and tree swallows.
We have the constant company of hummingbirds which I had been taking for granted
with all the excitement. Our extended property also supports Ruffed grouse, American
bittern, Northern flicker and Woodcock, and many more. So when I was forced to stay
home, it was with a pair of binoculars in one hand and a bird book in the other. I'm glad
I am able to now take out books from the Bangor Library, but my days at home forced
me to enjoy all the wildlife I had right in my own backyard.
Laura Nilsen
-