By Paul Noeldner
Friends of Urban Nature
We humans spend billions sending rockets with space probes to the moon and other planets, hoping to find a place that might someday support life. even if only for a chosen few. It makes one wonder who gets to go.
It also makes a person think the most important scientific instrument on a space probe should probably be a rear view mirror. Scientists could look back and discover a magical blue planet named Earth that already supports bountiful forms of life, including humans who want to settle here.
The challenge is not just finding technical solutions; it is each of us making ethical and social choices to cooperate and value others and the environment. We can’t succeed if we act like eight billion survivalists, each taking what we want without regard for the impact on other humans and other life around us.
We need to find ways to co-exist with each other and accommodate other forms of life right where we live, in order to settle on Earth without wrecking this magical gift. We all help create the world we live in. We just need to cooperate as humans and spend some of those billions intelligently on Earth to help save each other and all the beautiful life we already have right here.
Our birds of the month for June and July are two Orioles, both part of the Blackbird family and both delightful in their own ways. Baltimore Orioles are quite common in Madison in summer. They wear bright orange and black uniforms (yes, just like the baseball team). Their soft chatter and clear flute-like whistles are wonderful to hear in any neighborhood or park with large mature trees.
Orchard Orioles used to be primarily country birds but are becoming more common in cities. Their orange and black uniforms are a bit more rust colored. Their songs include a soft “chuck chuck” sound and clear whistled calls that sound like they are saying “look here, what cheer.”
Both species weave amazing hanging grass nests that dangle like socks at the tips of branches, out of reach of curious squirrels. A single woven grass nest may take over 10,000 stitches, all done with just their beaks. Oriole nests are often invisible in summer, hidden by leaves, but you can see them hanging like socks in winter when leaves have fallen. They love to eat fruit and are helpful to have around for insect pest control.
To see Orioles up close, try putting half an orange or a small bowl of grape jelly on your deck rail. They will also come to an orange Oriole nectar feeder with 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, much like a Hummingbird feeder.
It’s a great way to enjoy nature up close, and you are helping the Orioles, especially when migrating and nesting. Always keep cats indoors to protect Orioles and other birds.
