Now that many of the leaves have fallen off the trees along the Jordan River I have been finding quite a few Bullock’s Oriole nests on my walks along the trail.
Bullock’s Oriole nest in autumn – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light
Yesterday morning while I walked the trail next to the Jordan River I found a nest low enough in a cottonwood tree that I could photograph it and I barely had to step off the trail. It helped that the light wasn’t half bad on the nest too. When the trees are fully leafed out these oriole nests can be very hard to see.
The female Bullock’s Orioles select the nest site and they build the nests although sometimes the males help out. The nests are constructed with grasses, shredded leaves or bark, wool, and horsehair. The nests are lined with cottonwood or willow cotton, wool, or feathers.
Young Bullock’s Oriole in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/100, ISO 640, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I can only imagine how snug the nestling Bullock’s Orioles must be in their hanging nests. The nests work for this species though. This young Bullock’s Oriole hatched from a nest high in the Wasatch Mountains.
Now that the early morning temperatures have started to dip well below freezing I may start walking the trail later in the morning or even in the afternoon. Yesterday morning I became fairly chilled on my walk after some thick clouds moved in and blocked the warmth of the rising sun. When I got home I bundled up in a blanket on the sofa until I felt that I had warmed back up.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Bullock’s Oriole photos plus facts and information about this species.
Likewise here. I can live with the cold weather…but hot weather; especially hot-humid weather, beats me up something fierce. Another sign that I’m getting old. But I digress…these are both beautiful and instructive pics. The Oriole is gorgeous. Thanks Mia.
Masterly architecture. Like April I do better (much better) in cold weather than in hot.
It always amazes me how many of these nests show up after the leaves fall. I wasn’t quite ready to go from high 80’s to low 20’s in a couple weeks time! My body is finally making the adjustment. However I do better in cold than hot.