![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ccTYhFx4PJPge7hOpEs2ulk-4spuCeVQGOYCLCXsckwMIH1ylV7fndut7em-D2NcaDDwK3G1Xp2PWXylgKbMP0sLGAgCUvJGCE7D5AxwBYDODMb3We4TnS-lXbuA-W-iMrnmQCxlAZTO/s400/Baltimore-Oriole,-RCSP.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M0Ju4IuoO5Qu9y3gVqYZ-wKdnJnvJWMaj4MVpyYo3kz1AWakEgD2Mr23-pn6HwBhUL_WwxT0reusPgemodKEvoc_ClshCNJxj8fzqn-oQh3x_XbZdNGp1GxJr8NpslN771GAX5b2mqr2/s400/BaltimoreOriole,RCSP,-5-5-1.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QKhGzzbKoYkrmKh9eoUcNERvcT1lRvHhrnTuwoK0SYByBx99Dl1oBCjuY9xbCzFU3bndAA-V12wjbyv_YQ2QjNAVOj7fIe-_Cx8OsuSGc7MKUj-0ijy3za8WT3vcEURY8dLuF7X7X7jK/s400/Baltimore-Oriloe,-RCSP,-5-1.jpg) |
Another Baltimore Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/12/2012. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VcKT9Yx7XXaVjQnFvXFYLcMLT8CLNx0UJOUp0HJ8PtGFDzPNX8UY2zZuyqyqKC87YaCj9Dla2gGN4GznnbqxKNgtdZyzO9wMJSnbwzQpJSzMIJpR9Y7igj7lBHfmpqdhq1n0Y1YWXjYT/s400/BaltimoreOrioles,RCSP,-5-20.jpg) |
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. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqgjkLwrMYXrcpTSgPTngRfMn8NcqePs0GHT-aGvP4-XF-gYzxTEa7JWaEW44z45FlM0Ag2zAAdCzx_9xVjQKZR4xb6Cjp1hRv34GLr6LJo8WyWGD0uhyphenhyphenLXNg3ZavCEHzn3uN7Z_8yytj/s400/Orchard-Oriole,-RCSP,-5-12-.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7bQ_Tm8FGEBazpH5k5ZU3gLmb3fZpnCbmyxoox6jaDyNK_v76mY95IDIn3jrdOfawlcg_99FpLM8ulKkddD2W6m3Wfbq3B6LEcMsfoHbBm4s6dGEPz0OM2-0b9zvtgvChEKYwE30KP6z/s400/OrchardOriole,RCSP,5-20-12-.jpg) |
An Orchard Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/20/2012. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7qgKnEZ5m9AJFxYYWoGSIbWsr873YNFS72_x76vLEmmz_3gvhOrwlyn2r0PHEM6I_6_uxlbFJS6f9ihNSJXF3Nv_331pd1aNGjWTd8XIVwuFtQ7y-FD3zS06b7yXzoZ7qk0BSNCfXWNH/s400/Orchard-Oriole,1stYr,Nygren.jpg) |
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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