Out with the Old

Spring Birds Add Splashes of Color

The male hooded oriole is a real eye-popper. | Credit: Hugh Ranson

He comes in March in black and gold
Shouts from the top of the flowering oak —
“Out with the drab, the grey, and the old” —
Then hides himself in nature’s cloak

A bird I always associate with St. Patrick’s Day, because I invariably hear the first one of the year a few days on either side of March 17th, is the hooded oriole. This year, perhaps because of the cooler weather, wintering birds didn’t depart their wintering grounds in Mexico until later than usual, and I didn’t see my first until early April. Now, however, wherever I go I’m hearing, and sometimes seeing, these stunning birds. They can be hard to miss as they cavort along tree-lined streets, the males flashing their brilliant yellow-orange and black finery.

The yellow warbler can be found nesting along our creeks | Credit: Courtesy

Hooded orioles have an affinity for palm trees and often weave their hanging nests on the underside of palm fronds. The more cryptically colored green and yellow females poke holes on the underside of palm fronds and push plant fibers through these holes, effectively sewing their hanging basket nests to the underside of the fronds.