Although we had a couple relative cold and windy days in Eastern Iowa but it didn’t stop the migrating birds to show up here. Today I saw the first Indigo Bunting. The Scarlet Tanager keeps visiting the yard. I have seen three male tanagers but no females so far. The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and the male Baltimore Orioles are here since May 2nd. The female orioles seem to follow the males always a few days later but as you can see they arrived now as well.
With many bird species it is not easy to distinct between particular individuals, but it seems that each Baltimore Oriole, males and females, have a slightly different pattern of colors and spots, which makes it easier to count them. I don’t make a secret out of the fact that we provide orange halves for them to feed on. They take this offer especially shortly after their long journey from the south. In a few weeks they won’t touch them anymore and feed primarily on caterpillars, moths, beetles, bugs, and other insects.