Nesting Orioles

Luck probably had something to do with it, but Orioles are like any other bird or animal. They have a few basic needs, and if your yard meets those needs, then they may pick your tree to nest in. They need food, water, shelter, and a tree fit to built a nest in. Food and water can be provided quickly, but if you don't have shelter, and trees for nest building, that will take some long term planning. In our yard, the tree they nested in last year, was a Maple tree. They will build a new nest each year, but will many times build one in the same tree as the previous year.
Another thing that Orioles need is nest building material. They like to incorporate string, twine, yarn, or thread strands into their nests. If you want to make it a little easier for them, you can hang these types of materials around your yard on low hanging tree limbs, or on bushes.

Things we have tried, that they have eaten, include.
1. Grape Jelly
2. Orange Halves
3. Orange Slices
4. Grapes cut in half
5. Mango Slices
6. Fresh Pineapple
7. Orange Marmalade

*Note* They will eat almost any kind of jelly. They are after the sugar, so flavor isn't as important to them. I don't think they mind which brand either, so you might as well go with whichever jelly is cheapest.

Other things that Orioles are known to eat include.
1. Mealworms
2. Commercially Made, or Homemade Nectar
3. Peaches
4. Sliced Apples
5. Bananas
6. Various Berries

There several species of Orioles, and each species has their own preferences.

Song of Orchard Oriole (Link at Upper Left Corner of Page)

Song of Baltimore Oriole

There are basically four types of Oriole feeders. Nectar, dish type, and spiked, and combination types.

Nectar type feeders must have a platform. As you noticed in the photos above, the Orioles that frequent our yard, use our hummingbird feeders. Our hummingbird feeders have perches, and larger oval shaped holes (see photo), that will accommodate an Orioles larger bill. If your hummingbird feeders don't have perches, you might consider buying a nectar feeder specially made for Orioles. We mix our nectar with six parts water to one part sugar. There are nectar mixes that are commercially available, and those are colored, but the birds really don't seem to care if their nectar is colored or not, and don't really need the color. Be sure to put out fresh nectar every couple of days. This is especially important once the summer days start getting over 90.
Dish, or container type Oriole feeders are meant to be used to offer Jelly, sliced fruit, and even mealworms. Grape Jelly is what we use, and they seem to love it. Orioles will eat other flavors of jelly, but they like the grape so well, we just stick with that. We usually offer a small amount of sliced fruit along with the grape jelly. You should offer no more jelly or fruit than the Orioles will eat in two days. Keep it fresh, as with nectar, this is more important once it gets hot. One thing we have noticed with our Orioles is that once the temps get over 90, they seem to eat less fruit, and more jelly and nectar. Another reason besides the rise in temperature for them eating less fruit as the summer drags on, is that they also eat insects, and more of them are available as spring goes into summer.
Spike type Oriole feeers are meant to be used to feed orange halves. The orange have is just skewered on the spike. Some people even smear a little jelly on the orange half as a special treat. You can even hollow out an orange half, and put more jelly in it.
Then there are Oriole feeders that combine 2 or all 3 of the types mentioned above.

Why have Orioles stop coming to your feeders as often?

Once Orioles nest, and the babies hatch, the adults start spending most of their time hunting for insects to feed their baby Orioles. At this time, they may not visit feeders quite as often. After the babies leave the nest, you might get to view them at your feeder, as their parents show them the ropes of Oriole dining.

Altamira Oriole
Audubon's Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
Hooded Oriole
Northern Oriole
Orchard Oriole
Scott's Oriole

The Baltimore Orioles are common in the Midwest, and East. Also common in the East is the Orchard Oriole. Bullock's Orioles are the most common Oriole in the West.

And there are many species outside the U.S.