Thursday, April 24, 2008

The Hooded Orioles Are Nesting!


There's been a Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, living in my back yard for several years. He occasionally drinks out of the hummingbird feeder. This year, however, he has found himself a mate and they have built a nest! As in prior years, the nest is under one of the banana leaves. However, as opposed to the flimsy, partly built nests of prior years, this one is well made and it "sounds" like there are chicks inside. The nest opens along the axis of the leaf giving the chicks a safe haven from crows and other predators. Mom and Dad Oriole are virtual acrobats in manuevering around the leaf to pop in and out of the nest. None of the chicks popped out for the camera but here's the nest anyhow.

1 comment:

The Zen Birdfeeder said...

You have fabulous nesting going on in your habitat!