Newsletter Archives

Sales & Specials

We've decided to run a special on a handful of products. Act now on the following "Hot Buys" because the special ends on Monday, April 16th. Be sure to check out all of our exciting specials by visiting the Hot Buys department regularly.

New at the Nest

Our customers are valuable to us. We continually search for new and better ways to serve you. In an effort to better meet your needs, BestNest aggressively adds new products to the website. Some of the new and exciting products that we've added are shown below. Be sure to check out our New Items department regularly.

Clearance

A few of our deeply discounted items appear below. These items feature exceptional savings and value but are not all of our sale items. More discounted items may be found in their corresponding departments. Be sure to check out some of our other exciting deals by visiting the Clearance department regularly.

All About Orioles

In many parts of the U.S., the spring is time for blooming flowers, budding trees, and bird migration. One of the less discussed, yet most fascinating, migratory birds found in the U.S. and Canada is the oriole. These vividly colored birds enchant and inspire with their melodic song, amazing hanging nests, and beautiful flight. Learning about and attracting these birds to your yard is both fun and rewarding, and can easily be accomplished with the proper habitat, specific plants, and oriole feeders.

Orioles found within the U.S. are part of the blackbird family, closely related to grackles and meadowlarks, and nine different species can be found in this country. The five most commonly seen are the Baltimore, Orchard, Bullock’s, Scott’s, and Hooded orioles. All of these species migrate, spending the spring and summer within the U.S. and Canada, and overwintering throughout Central America. The birds arrive in the south of the country around March 15th, and extend into Canada and the northern states around May 15th. The Scott’s and Hooded orioles inhabit the American southwest, while the Bullock’s oriole lives west of the Rocky Mountains. The most well known variety, the Baltimore oriole, spends the summer throughout the eastern and central parts of the states, and in overlapping areas, the Baltimore and Bullock’s birds have been known to breed, creating a hybrid. Most male orioles have bright orange or yellow plumage, with black backs and wings. The females and juveniles have more muted tones of yellow, brown, and gray.

After these birds have completed their northward migration, the females spend much of their time building a hanging nest. While orioles can be found throughout the country, people who live close to heavily wooded areas, such as parks, glens, and forests, may be more likely to see them. This is because the birds often place their nest on slender branches in tall, deciduous trees, to keep the eggs safe from predators. An oriole’s nest is always hanging or somewhat hanging, and most often is literally woven together with pieces of long plant fibers and string. Placing yarn, twine, or string segments in your bird garden may even help attract the birds, while softer materials can be used to line the interior of the nest. These birds have not been known to use manmade housing, instead opting to build their own accommodations.

If tall trees are sparse in your area, you can still help orioles throughout their migration by planting trees, shrubs, and flowers which they enjoy. These fruit eating birds will gladly dine on berries from chokecherry plants and juneberry shrubs. Studies indicate they tend to prefer darker fruits, even disregarding ripe, lighter berries. As they also enjoy nectar, planting flowering trumpet plants like agave and honeysuckle can be a boon for them. Ensure the flowers you plant have thicker stems, so the orioles have a secure grip while dining on them.

In addition to nectar, orioles will readily eat mealworms, fruit, and insects. During the early stages of arrival, they often will choose oranges and other fruit, so offering orange segments on stakes or other oriole fruit feeders can help attract them to your yard. In the middle of the spring, many birds switch to an insect diet, which requires more energy. Filling an oriole nectar feeder with homemade or commercially available oriole nectar can help them maintain their energy levels. These nectar feeders are often orange in color, to help attract the birds, and have larger feeding ports and perches than hummingbird feeders. Orioles may try to use hummingbird feeders for their nectar, although the design and ports on these are often too small for their beaks. Later in the season, mealworms make a nutritious feast for the nestlings, offering a large amount of protein for their extensive growth. Grape jelly is always a welcome oriole treat as well. Like hummingbird feeders, ensuring the fruit and nectar remain clean and fresh will help attract birds, as well as keeping them healthy.

The elusive oriole, with its wealth of different species throughout the United States and Canada, has been fascinating bird watchers for centuries. Creating a welcoming habitat for them can lead to this lovely bird visiting your garden regularly. BestNest carries a great selection of Oriole Feeders to make your garden a favorite feeding spot for these lovely birds. For more personal assistance, feel free to contact one of our customer service representatives toll free at 877-562-1818 or internationally at 513-232-4225 from 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.