The lovely oriole is often a favorite of bird-watchers. Altogether there are eight native oriole species living throughout the United States and southern Canada, with some as far north as Nova Scotia. Most species are not in North America long, just staying from as little as late May to mid-July before migrating south for the rest of the year.
East of the Rocky Mountains, the Baltimore oriole and the orchard oriole are the most common species. In the West, it is the Bullock’s oriole. The males have a beautiful coloring of black and orange or deep yellow, but the females are not as brightly colored. This is a wise plan of the Creator, because it helps keep her safe while hatching and raising the chicks.
Orioles can be helpful to gardeners, eating many caterpillars and insects. The Baltimore oriole even eats hairy caterpillars that other birds won’t eat. Orioles have a sweet tooth and they enjoy fruit and berries, along with nectar.
This bird is interesting not only because of its beauty, but also because of its unusual nest. The nest is usually built as a hanging basket attached to a branch fairly high in a tree. The female weaves plant fibers like grasses and bark and sometimes animal hair into a nest using her beak. Whatever the material, the complicated nest takes a week to 12 days to complete. She skillfully weaves the materials together, often doing a kind of knot, adding stiffer material where needed for extra support. A soft lining such as wool, fine grass or horsehairs is added. The nest is open at the top but hidden underneath large leaves or branches to hide it from enemies. Although they build a new nest every year, they often return to the same area or tree to build their new nest.
Orchard orioles are a bit unusual in that they are easygoing and not as territorial as many birds. This is seen in that they tend to nest in groups if they like a location, such as a tree that is near a river. They will also nest in trees with various other birds, such as the American robin, chipping sparrows, Baltimore orioles, and some others.
As we think about the orioles and their beauty and their interesting nests, we are thinking about another wonder of God’s creation. This beautiful bird does what it has been made to do from the beginning of time, and in this way it is part of God’s plan for this world. As boys and girls, you are a part of the most wonderful creatures God made in the beginning: humans. He made you for His pleasure. You can please Him by simply being obedient and by doing even the smallest thing for Him, “heartily, as to the Lord,” as our opening verse says.
Did You Know?
Orioles can be helpful to gardeners, eating many caterpillars and insects.
Messages of God’s Love 3/9/2025