Backyard birders know that orioles love grape jelly. The bright orange and black birds flock to feeders filled with the sweet spread. But when is the right time to take the grape jelly feeders down for the season?
This comprehensive guide will provide everything you need to know about feeding orioles grape jelly, including when to stop.
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: Stop feeding orioles grape jelly by early October at the latest. Orioles migrate south for the winter, so grape jelly feeders should be taken down before the birds leave your area.
Continuing to offer grape jelly into late fall and winter will also attract other species that do not migrate.
Why Orioles Love Grape Jelly
Naturally Occurring Food Source
Orioles are naturally drawn to foods that resemble their wild diet. In the spring and summer, orioles feast on ripe berries and fruit including mulberries, raspberries, and cherries. The deep purple color and sweet taste of grape jelly closely resembles these fruits, making it an ideal snack for orioles even though it lacks the nutrition of whole fruit.
Studies show that orioles who eat grape jelly do not receive adequate protein and fat compared to their natural diet. Still, it provides a quick source of sugars and carbohydrates to fuel their active lifestyle.
High Calorie
Grape jelly is an energy-dense food, packing around 100 calories per tablespoon. Since orioles have a fast metabolism to support flight and migration, they require a high calorie intake compared to other birds.
The concentrated sugars in grape jelly offer easy calories to sustain their high activity levels. However, too much grape jelly can lead to obesity and other health issues in orioles when it replaces more balanced natural foods.
Moderation is key – a few tablespoons per day provides a treat without negatively impacting their diet.
Bright Color Attracts Orioles
Orioles use vision as their primary sense when foraging, and they are naturally drawn to the vivid purple color of grape jelly that stands out against most backgrounds. The striking color signals that it is a sugary fruit source just like berries found in nature.
Orioles have trouble resisting the eye-catching jelly and will often recruit their friends to share the bounty. While nutritionally empty, the bright color and sweet taste keeps orioles returning to grape jelly feeders year after year.
Still, it should only supplement a diet based on insects and natural fruits to maintain their health.
When Orioles Migrate South
Migration Patterns Vary
Orioles are amazing migratory birds that travel long distances each year between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Central and South America. However, not all orioles follow the same migration schedule or route.
Here are some key facts about oriole migration patterns:
As you can see, oriole migration patterns can vary quite a bit. The best way to know when your local orioles are getting ready to head south is to watch for activity at your feeders or fruit trees on a daily basis.
Watch for Latest Local Migration Times
Orioles migrate through a given area over a period of weeks, not all at once. Here are some tips for monitoring the migration status of orioles in your own backyard:
By carefully observing the orioles in your backyard and networking with other local birders, you can determine when your area’s orioles seem to have completed migration for the year. This will help guide decisions about when to take down feeders.
Migrate Before Cold Weather
Orioles are sensitive to cold weather and lack the insulating down feathers of other backyard birds. This is why they migrate before winter every year, heading to the tropics where they can find the insects and fruit they rely on. Here are some key reasons orioles migrate before winter:
So timing migration before harsh weather arrives is crucial to oriole survival. This is why monitoring local migration times can help determine how long you should provide supplemental food sources like grape jelly feeders in autumn.
Dangers of Feeding Orioles Too Late
Prevents Migration
Orioles are migratory birds that travel between breeding grounds in the northern United States and Canada to wintering grounds in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. However, providing food sources like grape jelly late in the summer and fall can cause some orioles to delay their migration south.
This puts them at risk as temperatures drop and food sources decline in the late fall and winter. By continuing to provide food into late October and November, people inadvertently encourage orioles to stick around when they should be migrating to warmer climes.
This can lead to starvation and death as the birds struggle to survive colder temperatures and dwindling natural food sources.
Attracts Other Birds
Grape jelly feeders often attract other bird species besides orioles. Birds such as robins, catbirds, and mockingbirds frequently visit these feeders and compete with orioles for the food source. While small amounts of competition are natural, excessive competition from too many birds at a single jelly feeder can limit the orioles’ access to the high-calorie food they need before migration.
In addition, species such as European starlings are invasive and aggressive. Large flocks may monopolize feeders and exclude native songbirds such as orioles.
Risk of Starvation
As seasons change, bird feeding practices should change too. Orioles need high-calorie foods in spring and summer while raising young and preparing for migration. However, by late September and October, they should be eating more natural foods to prime their bodies for migration.
Relying too much on sugary jelly can lead to obesity, nutritional deficiencies, or other health issues. Stopping jelly feeding in late summer encourages the birds to switch to more nutritious native berries, insects, etc. This builds up fat reserves and muscles for the long migration journey.
People who continue providing grape jelly into late fall may inadvertently cause orioles to miss those important dietary changes. If bad weather then grounds the birds or they wait too long to migrate, they face starvation without adequate natural food sources.
How to Transition Orioles to Natural Foods
Let Jelly Supply Dwindle
Gradually reducing the amount of grape jelly you put out for orioles is key to transitioning them to eating more natural foods. Start by filling your feeders a little less each day over the course of a week or two.
This will slowly encourage the orioles to seek out alternate food sources to meet their nutritional needs.
Offer Fruit Instead
Offering fresh fruit is a great way to get orioles eating healthier. Cut oranges, apples, berries, bananas and other fruits into small pieces and skewer them or place them in small cups on feeders. The bright colors and sweet taste will likely attract orioles.
Just be sure to remove any uneaten fruit within a day to avoid mold.
Provide Nutritious Treats
There are many nutritious treats you can offer to supplement an oriole’s diet as you reduce the jelly. Mealworms are excellent sources of protein. Live or dried insects can be placed in small dishes or mesh bags. You can also try chopped unsalted nuts like peanuts or cashews.
Hard boiled eggs and cheese can also offer a protein boost.
Here are some other natural foods that provide essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients for orioles:
- Suet and nectar mixes
- Chopped raisins or currants
- Finely shredded coconut
- Chopped grapes or cherries
- Crushed eggshells for calcium
- Chopped shelled unsalted peanuts
The key is gradually reducing the sugary jelly while consistently providing an abundance of healthy, enticing alternatives in its place. Be patient, as it may take a few weeks for the orioles to adapt to the change.
But with a diverse spread of natural foods, you can successfully transition them to a healthier diet.
What to Do With Oriole Feeders After Migration Season
Clean Thoroughly to Prevent Mold
After the orioles have migrated south for the winter, it’s important to thoroughly clean your oriole feeders to prevent mold growth. Use a stiff brush and hot, soapy water to scrub away any leftover grape jelly or fruit residue stuck to the feeder. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Rinse very well afterwards. Allow the feeder to completely air dry before storing it away. Any moisture left inside could allow mold to grow over the winter months.
You may also want to periodically sanitize your feeders by soaking them in a bleach-water solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) for 5-10 minutes. This helps kill any bacteria that may be present. Rinse very thoroughly afterwards to remove all traces of bleach.
Let the feeder fully dry before packing it up for the season.
A clean, dry feeder will be ready to go when those beautiful orioles return next spring!
Store Properly Over Winter
Once your oriole feeder is sparkling clean, make sure to store it in a safe, dry location over the winter. Temperatures should be cool but consistently above freezing. A garage, shed, or basement are often good options.
Before storage, it’s a smart idea to pack the feeder with an absorbent material like crumpled newspaper or paper towels. This will soak up any extra moisture and prevent mold growth. Make sure the feeder is completely dry itself first.
You’ll also want to protect the feeder from any critters who may try to nest in it over winter. Place it in a sealed plastic bin or bag, or cover the feeder openings with mesh or netting secured with rubber bands.
With proper off-season care, your feeder will be preserved and ready to hang up again next year when oriole sightings start up in the spring!
Have Ready for Next Spring
Part of preparing your oriole feeder for next season is having it in an easily accessible spot come springtime. That way, it can be hung back up as soon as the orioles arrive again in your yard.
In late winter, bring the freshly cleaned feeder out of storage and place it near a window or in the garage where you can keep an eye out for returning birds. Have fresh grape jelly or fruit nectar on hand so you can immediately fill the feeder and welcome those migrating orioles back.
If your feeder needs any minor repairs from its long winter rest, late winter is also a good time to take care of that. Check for any cracks or leaks and seal with waterproof adhesive if needed. Replace any chewed up plastic perches or rusty wire hooks before hanging up.
With your feeder cleaned, maintained, and ready to be filled, you’ll be prepared to happily greet your feathered friends when they make their spring return. Having the feeder up and stocked early will attract them right back to your yard.
Conclusion
Orioles relish grape jelly and will take advantage of feeders stocked with this sweet treat. However, jelly feeders should be removed by early October to encourage the orioles’ natural migration instincts.
With a few simple steps, you can transition the orioles away fromDependence on the jelly while still enjoying their vibrant presence in your yard over the summer months. Knowing when to take down the feeders prevents issues and ensures the orioles will return healthy and strong next year.
