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Mass Audubon Oriole Project 2008
Season Summary
My son, Harrison, and I have participated in the Oriole program for the past three years... When my son was four years old, he use to call these birds "Flying Cheese Puffs". He is now six and he was delighted when I shared with him the news that his "Flying Cheese Puffs" have returned for another season and they were enjoying his left over orange slices from his baseball game. Long Live the Flying Cheese Puffs!!!
-Kelly McGann Hebert, Harwich
Massachusetts Oriole Spotters Break All Records!
We now have a staggering 10,895 oriole records in the database, including 939 confirmed nests, and records from 85.5% of the towns in the Commonwealth - thanks in part to orioles recorded by the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas. Check the ever-dwindling list of Massachusetts towns whose orioles continue to go unrecognized.
2008 Scorecard (2007 results in parentheses)
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Total orioles reported this season: 3374 (2679) - a 26% increase over 2007! We now have oriole records from 21 states, plus Ontario and Alberta; new on the list are Vermont and Maryland.
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Total Records in database: 10,895 (7521)
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Total localities reported this season: 1422 (1266)
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New localities: 957 (542)
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Repeat localities: 465 (317)
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Active nests confirmed this season: 245 (226)
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Total nest records in database: 939 (694)
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Participants this season: 710 (782)
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Towns reporting this season: 266 (245)
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New towns: 19 (28)
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Total towns in database: 300 (281)
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Towns with most orioles recorded this season:
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Westford: 54
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Plymouth: 52
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Shrewsbury: 49
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Newbury: 34
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Boston: 28
Champion Oriole Counters
Sharla Fenwick of Plymouth recaptured her title of Champion Oriole Counter in 2008 with 56 records. David Larson of Haverill moved into second place with 41 records submitted, barely edging out John Galuzzo of Weymouth with 40 records. Karen Nelson slipped to fourth place but with a still very respectable 25 records, and Dan Geary of Danvers entered the top five category with 21 records. Many people submitted 17, 18 or 19 records each.
Data Maps
Maps of the results from 2008 and previous years are now available. View maps! We present the information in map format to control for differences in level of effort across towns.
Technology Rules!
Our web-based Oriole Locator has been a great success and will allow us to plot Oriole locations more precisely. We continue to receive and accept written records - all observations are welcome.
We will be posting more bird locator tools on the Birds to Watch site as we add species, and please check out the new Owl Reporter on the Breeding Bird Atlas site.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
A number of observant oriole watchers have sent accounts and inquiries like the following:
The orioles arrived the first week in May, and have left as of the last week in June. Why do they leave so early in the summer and where do they go? -Carole Carnovale, Mendon
During the weeks following their arrival male orioles sing tirelessly to attract the attention of potential mates and announce property boundaries to rival males. Once the eggs are laid and the young have hatched, the goal is just the opposite - to become as inconspicuous as possible to potential predators and cowbirds. Singing typically stops by the end of June, but you may continue to see activity until mid July when the young have learned to fly, and the oriole family begins foraging quietly in the immediate neighborhood. In August you may spot "your" orioles again and even hear a few snatches of the males familiar song, before they head for the tropics in September.
More Golfers Wanted
In an earlier newsletter, we suggested that golf courses seemed to provide good oriole nesting habitat and encouraged golfers to watch for them. And they did!
- Wendi Haynes of Duxbury reports succinctly: Nest in tree near 15th tee at golf course.
- After reporting no fewer than 20 males, 9 females and 3 active nests, Mr. Edward H. Winslow III of Beverly exclaims with obvious enthusiasm: This is the most I have ever seen at the golf course. They are all over the place. I play golf there 5 days a week.
- And Donna Gauthier of Essex validates our assumption: I have seen male orioles at every golf course I play on: Sagamore in Middleton, Cape Ann in Essex, Beverly Golf and Tennis in Beverly, The Meadows in Peabody.
Data Quality Improving
We continue to ask oriole counters to give us more detail in their reports, to confirm actual nesting activity, for example, to report returning orioles even if you've reported them in past years and to note historical trends. The more specific information of this kind we can assemble, the better our baseline data will be for judging how the oriole population is faring in the future. For example:
This pair or their offspring has come to my yard for I think, 30 years!! Glad you asked to have it reported. I had just decided that I would write the date in my diary because I never thought about exactly when they arrived. - Bonnie Paul, Sharon
Lived here 32 years only seen orioles in the last 5 years. they return every year. Usually have 2 males and 2 females. One nest last year way up high in tree, 2nd nest hanging on a low branch over the sidewalk. - Linda Souza, Plymouth
Oriole Soap Operas
Maybe it's just that orioles arrive with the first convincing spring awakening, but there often seems to be a distinct flavor of romantic drama in many of the reports we get. One of our out-of-state respondents chronicled a saga of desertion and substitution involving cowbirds that she thought might be titled "As the Worm Turns" A small sample of other tales of avian love follows.
We have had a male & female visiting our backyard and neighborhood for four years. They arrive at the very same time the apple tree blossoms... This year we have only seen a male and he has been singing his song all over the neighborhood but still no sight of a female. -Susan Muir, East Bridgewater
4 males singing their hearts out. No females. - Shan Morrissey, Scituate
Two males checking out the weeping willow tree (and each other). - Suzanne Wilkinson, Topsfield
Adopt-an-Oriole
We have never doubted the dedication of Massachusetts oriole watchers, now numbering in the thousands. But we think that you'll agree that Steve Murphy of Quincy would deserve a Golden Oriole medal (if there was one) for exceptional devotion to his orioles and our project. He writes:I believe these three birds are the same I have been reporting since 2005. I am moving to California and will not report next year. I hope someone can come and count my Orioles next year. Take a right JUST before you would go straight into Wal Mart, and stop about a quarter to half a mile up the road. Please someone count my birds for me next year.
Oriole Chronicles
Carole Carnovale of Mendon invites you to view the series of gorgeous oriole photos that has put up on her website. An example is shown above.
Ten Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-five Thank Yous
Thank you to our growing legion of Oriole Watchers for your records and for the wonderful communications that most of you include with your reports. We received more than 1300 this year and continue to be moved by the passion, joy and concern you express for orioles and by extension for all birdlife and the natural world. We can't publish all of them of course but here are a few more that we think will make you smile:
I heard this Oriole-- have heard a pair around the house over the past 4 days, I've been singing to them. It was soooo beautiful! - Nina Marks, North Adams
I have been walking in the Boston Common and Public Garden at lunch time for 20 years. My first Oriole sighting in the Public Garden. The Oriole may be nesting in one of the many Elm trees in the Common. - Jeff Gifford, Brookline
We found an oriole on Land Sake Farm property. He was going into a pile of brush and hay. He was very beautiful and bright orange. I was with my friend Zoe. I hope to see another one! - Sarah McKay, age 6, Newton
Hurray!... I think they're celebrating Cinco de Mayo! - Deborah Lateine, Plymouth
2 beautiful adult males. One is a male returning from last year, because I have his song pattern taped (and memorized!). The other is new to me. - Valerie Slee, Shrewsbury
I know this doesn't have to do with Baltimore Orioles, but I had 4 pair of red breasted grosbeaks at my feeders during the last couple days. the most I have ever seen is just 1 pair. Just wanted to share. - Diane LaValley, West Warren
Learn more
Learn more about the Oriole Project, including how you can contribute:
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