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Oriole Project 2005 Results
 Oriole Watchers Exceed Expectations
The response to our effort to census Massachusetts Baltimore Orioles during the 2005 nesting season was as spectacular as the birds themselves. Oriole-watchers sent in 522 data postcards and completed 887 on-line entries.
As one Mass Audubon staff member said, "It's like we invented a new spectator sport. The term 'oriole fans' takes on a whole new meaning."
To belabor the sports metaphor a little longer, here are the box scores that demonstrate the extraordinary performance turned in by our team of citizen ornithologists:
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Total Number of Orioles Counted: 2753
Total Males: 1850
Total Females: 854
Number of Active Nests Confirmed: 247
Number of participants: 818
Number of MA towns with at least 1 record: 234 of 351 MA municipalities (66.6%); this is especially gratifying since we did not promote the program significantly in Central and Western MA - and still we got records!
Towns with the highest number of records:
 - Gloucester: 98
- Newbury: 96
- Plymouth: 96
- Amesbury: 91
- Belmont: 89
Champion Oriole Counter: Sharla Fenwick of Plymouth with 33 records submitted from 11 towns mainly on the South Shore - Way to go, Sharla!
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Data Maps
Maps of the results from 2005 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.
A huge Thank You to all participants in our 2005 Mass Audubon Oriole Project. We greatly appreciate your active engagement in our bird conservation efforts. Read on for more details of the '05 season!
Orioles in Our Neighborhoods!
In 2005, the great majority of reports came from the respondents' immediate neighborhoods, most often from their own yards. One of the unexpected insights that emerged from the census forms was that hundreds of people have been keeping track of their orioles for years, have watched their comings and goings closely, and have taken an almost parental interest in their welfare. A sampling of the comments we received gives a sense of this heartfelt response:
"We have had this pair for three years. This is the third year. They have had four young in the last two springs. They are now peeling dry yucku bark in strips to make a new nest. They are active and healthy." - M.R., Sudbury
"There were several orioles in the trees to the right of the baseball field. My dad told me that when he was a kid (in the 30's) there were about 50 nesting pairs at this site. We also saw vireos<85>and a northern kingbird, which I had never seen before. This is a spot worthy of investigation for anyone looking for birds!" -Louise Sherburne, Ipswich
"I noticed the bird early in the morning, between 6 and 7AM, probably because I heard it, and then when I looked up I was amazed to see the oriole. I have lived here my whole life and never seen an oriole. It was so beautiful<85>" -Sheila Canizares, Milton
"first sighting ever, orange neon like, wings with white spots, flew off before got camera" - Anon., Franklin
"The lack of orioles seems to be the issue this year<85>I have not even heard them singing. Very Sad. I will keep looking and hoping." -Ellen Abrams, Lunenburg
"13th year in a row nesting - seen yesterday harassing a broad-winged hawk" - Jerry Bertrand, former President of Mass Audubon and Honorary Vice-President of Bird Life International, S. Hamilton
In addition to being heartwarming, this clear evidence of human bonding with local orioles bodes well for accomplishing one of the Oriole Project's major goals of tracking local populations of orioles over time. With enough closely-watched-orioles in our database we hope to be able to discern statistically valid population trends as well as collecting observations about factors such as predation, parasitism, and habitat changes that may affect oriole breeding success.
Orioles Rule!
Another piece of good news for orioles that came through loud and clear this year is that kids (and their teachers) love them. For example students from the Doyon School in Ipswich sent in 23 data cards with great location details: "field behind Doyon School past the soccer field near the thicket in line with a bluebird house." (That oriole is under serious surveillance.) Frances Williamson's 6th grade class at Marblehead's Tower School also submitted an excellent set of records.
The Other Nesting Season.
The orioles may be sipping nectar in a Giant Ceiba tree in Guatemala, but winter is actually one of the best times to find oriole nests here at home. The distinctive woven pendulous sack made by Baltimore Orioles is unlike any other bird nest and is easiest to spot once the leaves have fallen. This is a great way to add nest records to the data base and to find pairs of orioles that you missed during the spring and summer; make note of the tree and re-check the area after May 15.
Did you know...?
According to the Bird Banding Laboratory in Laurel Maryland, the oldest known wild Baltimore Oriole survived for 11 years and 7 months, a veritable Methuselah for a wild songbird.
Participate in the 2008 Oriole Project
For those of you who sent us oriole records in 2005, thanks and congratulations on a spectacularly successful season! Participate this year!
Learn more!
Learn more about the Oriole Project, including how you can contribute:
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