Hooded Orioles

The hooded orioles are back, nesting in the banana tree as always.  I heard the chicks peeping as I walked by the banana tree but it took me a few moments to figure out that the source of the sound was the banana tree leaf!  I am hoping that the ravens do not find them this year as the ravens raid the Spring nests on a regular basis.  Still, a nest woven underneath a banana tree leaf ought to give them some pause.

Hooded Oriole

Male Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, from the pair that nests in the back yard under the banana tree leaves. Spring is here...

Hooded Oriole Chicks Have Arrived!

Hooded Oriole chicks in nest on banana leaf, Icterus cucullatus. It always amazes me that mamma oriole can weave a nest under a banana leaf! I'm not sure I could do anything close even if I tried! She carefully punctures the leaf and threads anchoring grass in and out of the leaf edges. She then adds mass to make the basket of the nest. Add eggs and voila! The nests must be pretty strong as well since those babies are not at all petite!

This Hooded Oriole pair have nested for several years in my little clump of banana trees. This is the first year they've actually laid eggs, however; so, I considered myself very fortunate to be able to see this. Luckily, they chose a leaf close enough to the ground that I could get the snout of my camera (ahem, lens) in there to snap a picture.

The Hooded Orioles are Back!

Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, male. The Hooded Oriole pair are back and nesting under the banana tree leaves as usual. It was fascinating watching the female flit around, nearly hovering, as she attached grass to the underside of the banana leaf. How they get the nest to stay under there is still a mystery to me! I'm not sure I could do it and I have hands and tools! Well, maybe with a lot of quick drying glue? This picture is of the male Hooded Oriole who is a stunningly beautiful yellow and black!

Momma Hooded Oriole

This is a picture of the female Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, from the mating pair in my back yard. The female is especially fond of coming to my hummingbird feeder for nectar, possibly because she is feeding chicks. As you can see, they are very fond of my Banana trees (Apple Bananas?) for both nesting and just plain perching about.

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.

Hooded Oriole

This Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, was chirping up a storm in my back yard. They are wonderfully beautiful and stop by each Spring.