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A Baltimore Oriole gathering nesting materials near Olsen Lake, Rock Cut State Park; 5/5/2012. |
I have never seen or heard as many Baltimore Orioles as I did on May 5, at Rock Cut State Park this year. I am guessing I probably saw and heard as many as 2 - 3 dozen Orioles. The day before - None. They showed up overnight in huge numbers. Judging by the posts on the IBET (birdingonthe.net) boards from the same date, the same thing was happening all over Northern Illinois - Baltimore Orioles were being reported in large numbers by many birders from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan in the northern third of Illinois.
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Another Baltimore Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/5/2012. |
Within the week, while visiting Colored Sands FP, Espenscheid FP, Black Hawk Springs FP, and Nygren Wetlands, I saw many Baltimore Orioles in each of these places.
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Another Baltimore Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/12/2012. |
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A Male Balt. Oriole checking out a female who is in obvious mating position, Rock Cut State Park; 5/20/2012. |
As I was waiting for the male Baltimore Oriole to get more in the open, he was soon joined by a female. By the looks of things, they were getting ready to mate (Above and Below), but I never actually witnessed the deed. I think they were bothered by my presence and probably waited until I was out of sight.
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The same Oriole pair, Rock Cut State Park; 5/20/2012. |
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An Orchard Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/12/2012. |
Another Oriole species that showed up about mid May was the Orchard Oriole (Above). They are not as common as the Baltimores, but I have had a chance to see an Orchard in at least three different occaissions this Spring.
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An Orchard Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/20/2012. |
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A 1st Year Orchard Oriole, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 6/2/2012. |
While hiking in Nygren Wetlands, I was following a yellow bird that flew behind a small bush. I initially thought it was a Common Yellowthroat, but it seemed too big to be a Yellowthroat so I kept on it. While I was aiming my camera at the bush hoping to get a better glimpse, it poked its head out and I saw that it was a First Year Orchard Oriole, which are mostly yellow with dark wings and a black mask and throat. This was very satisfying, since I haven't seen a First-year Orchard since two years ago at the Rowe Sanctuary in Nebraska.
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