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Mass Audubon Oriole Project 2006
Season Summary
 6:30 AM: After filling the empty grape jelly dishes on the 2 platform feeders there were 13 orioles at the feeders at the same time. This is the most that I have counted at the feeders at one time. This week I have been going through 32oz of jelly every 2 days in addition to oranges and sugar water. - Deborah Melahn (Plymouth)
Another Successful Oriole Season
Once again Massachusetts oriole enthusiasts put a great deal of energy (and a lot of heart) into increasing our knowledge of these beautiful and fascinating birds. It has been gratifying to note that the program is not only attracting many new oriole observers, but that a large percentage of participants understands the importance of tracking nest sites over time and have sent us follow-up records for the orioles ("their" orioles!) that they first sampled in '04 or '05. This kind of information is crucial if we are to detect trends in oriole populations over time. Please keep sending this "repeat data" when the next oriole season arrives (only 6 months to go!)—and don't forget to tell us if your birds don't return. It may be a sad occasion, but such "negative data" is just as important as the positive kind.
About the Numbers...
The Oriole Project is conducted under the watchful eye of Mass Audubon's Conservation Science Division, to make sure that our numbers are "clean," and that any analysis we eventually undertake about the increase or decline of Massachusetts orioles is scientifically defensible. This number cleaning process involves such arcane processes as sorting out duplicate reports and separating true municipalities from neighborhoods and villages—more time-consuming than you might imagine, but important. All this is by way of explaining that mathematically inclined readers who take the trouble to compare the numbers presented below with similar statistics in previous reports may find that some of them don't "add up." For example the number of oriole-positive towns cited below is actually smaller than that noted in the mid season report. This is because since the last newsletter we have reassigned neighborhood and village reports to their appropriate towns or cities. The records are still valid of course, but for the sake of consistency we have "lumped" some into their official municipalities.
2006 Scorecard:
- Total orioles reported this season: 2,035
- Total Orioles in database: 4,788
- Total localities reported this season: 1,168
- New localities: 919
- Repeat localities: 249
- Active nests confirmed this season: 221
- Total nests in database: 468
- Participants this season: 728
- Total participants in database: 1,354
- Towns reporting this season: 223
- New towns: 38
- Total towns in database: 253
- Towns with most orioles recorded this season:
- Plymouth: 92
- Boston: 81
- Milton: 72
- Newton: 69
- Westford: 69
- Champion Oriole Counter: Sharla Fenwick of Plymouth wins for the second year with 35 records! Second and third places respectively go to Karen Nelson of Shrewsbury (21 records) and Sarah Strong of Weston (16 records).
Data Maps
Maps of the results from 2006 are available through the links below. We present the information in map format to control for differences in level of effort across towns.
Maps from previous years are also available.
Out-of-State Orioles
One measure of peoples' enthusiasm for orioles, or counting orioles (or answering surveys?) is that despite the fact that our oriole forms, both paper and electronic, name Massachusetts prominently as the location of the project, we have gotten records from no fewer than 17 states and provinces including: Alberta, CA(2), CO, Il(2), IN, KS(3), MI, NE(2), NH(4), NY(4), MO(3), OH(2), Ontario, PA(2), RI, Utah, and WI. While we have no immediate plans for expanding the project continent-wide (Indeed we're still waiting to hear from a number of towns in central and western MA!) we thank the cited states and provinces for their reports and urge the obviously energized oriole watchers in those places to start their own project.
The Other Oriole
Not surprisingly, project participants who are on the lookout for Baltimore Orioles—and especially those who offer oranges, grape jelly and other savory blandishments—encounter not only the target species, but also the much more local resident Orchard Oriole. Once a rare and very irregular breeding bird in Massachusetts, this oriole is one of a number of "southern" species that has extended its ranges markedly northward in the last 30 years or so, possibly as a result of climate change. It is still far less common than its more brilliant cousin, but it has certainly become regular and widespread. Though your priority should continue to be reporting Baltimore Orioles, we will take note of Orchard Oriole records you care to include. For a photo of the darkly handsome male Orchard Oriole, see the photo (which we neglected to label!) in the 2006 mid-season report.
 Did You Know...?
There are 24 species of "icterid" orioles in the world. The Icteridae is the blackbird family that includes the grackles and cowbirds as well as the Bobolink, the meadowlarks and the New World orioles. The greatest diversity of oriole species is found in Mexico and Central America where the family is thought to have evolved. Of the nine species of orioles that nest in the United States one, the Spot-breasted is introduced (to southern Florida) and most of the rest are essentially tropical species too, which just make it across the border from Texas to California. Even our two New England orioles, Baltimore and Orchard, can be thought of as tropical birds since they spend only the breeding season with us and spend most of the year in their Neotropical winter quarters or making the long commute to and from. With the single exception of the chestnut Orchard Oriole, males of all of these orioles are yellow or orange and black.
Thank you! And keep those records coming!
We can't say it often enough: it's all about numbers. We want to map as many Massachusetts orioles as possible and keep track of the ones you have already located. Getting thorough coverage in your own neighborhood or town is especially valuable.
Also, please keep sending your observations and comments. Narratives like the ones at top and bottom have useful insights and—not incidentally—are one of the great pleasures of sorting your records and putting together this newsletter.
I have seen Baltimore Orioles on our property as well as the neighboring properties for the past 3 years (my husband and I have lived here for 4 years). The males sing incessantly and fight each other. I have not been able to find the nests in previous years but I knew they were nests nearby because I would see the Orioles aggressively driving away Grackles and Starlings. Around the end of June to early July, I would see parents teaching the fledglings to fly. I am so thrilled I finally found a nest yesterday! Elena Finizio (Halifax)
This is the first day I have heard and seen Baltimore Orioles in my neighborhood! I have been waiting for them to return - cannot tell you how excited I am to hear them again!!! 2 males singing in the trees on Pheasant Hill Street this morning. There are a total of 6 nests from last year in my neighborhood! I will be watching to see where nests are built this spring! Oak trees seem to be the tree of choice for Oriole nests in my neighborhood. Wendy Muellers (Westwood)
One nest is 50 feet up in an oak tree, one in a weeping willow and the third in a maple. all are grey, hanging 'sack like' nests. Male and female birds were actively visiting the nests. The empty nest is from last year. We are delighted to have these beautiful birds who sing so cheerfully here on our farm. At one nest I could hear baby birds. I have reported birds here the last two years and this year there are more orioles. Thank you for doing this study. I have been telling many people about it and telling about our birds. I have been a Mass Audubon member over 50 years. Nancy Lutts (Salem)
Learn more!
Learn more about the Oriole Project, including how you can contribute:
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