Orioles are beautiful, brightly colored birds that can add excitement to backyards across North America. While orioles are primarily nectar and insect eaters, they can also be attracted to backyard feeding stations stocked with sugary foods like jelly and orange slices. Jelly is an excellent food to offer orioles, as the natural sugars provide quick energy. Many bird enthusiasts have found that repurposing used glass jars to hold jelly for orioles is an affordable and crafty way to create an oriole-friendly feeding station. But what size and shape of jelly jar is best for an oriole feeder? Keep reading to learn more about how to select the right jelly jar for your oriole feeding needs.
What Do Orioles Eat?
Orioles are members of the blackbird family and the two main species found in North America are the Baltimore oriole and the orchard oriole. The diet of orioles consists mainly of insects, spiders, fruit and nectar. While they tend to feed more heavily on insects and spiders during the spring and summer, fruit and nectar make up a larger part of their diet in the fall as they need to build up fat stores to fuel their long migration south.
Some of the fruits that wild orioles are attracted to include mulberries, chokecherries, blueberries, raspberries and more. They use their pointed bills to pierce the skin of fruit to obtain the sugary flesh inside. As for nectar, orioles enjoy flower nectar from blooms like trumpet vines, fuchsias and salvias.
When it comes to backyard bird feeding, orioles are drawn to sweet liquid foods. Sugary nectar, jellies, honey and even sugar water will entice them. Grape jelly is a particular favorite, although other flavors like orange or raspberry also appeal to them. Orioles relish the concentrated sugars in these foods.
Why Offer Jelly for Orioles?
There are a few key reasons why jelly makes an excellent backyard bird food for orioles:
- High sugar content – The natural sugars in jelly provide orioles with quick energy.
- Bright colors – Orioles are attracted to the jewel-toned colors of many jellies.
- Smooth texture – The smooth, spreadable consistency of jelly makes it easy for orioles to eat.
- Inexpensive – Jelly is relatively affordable compared to other backyard bird feeding supplies.
- Convenient – Premade jelly is ready to be put out with minimal prep.
Jelly also nicely supplements the main diet of insects and spiders that orioles rely on, especially during nesting season. It can provide vital additional calories and carbohydrates.
Offering jelly to orioles is therefore an easy way to provide them with energy-boosting supplemental food. The sweet treat will keep them returning frequently to your yard.
Choosing a Jar for an Oriole Feeder
When it comes to vessels for offering jelly to orioles, glass jars make the perfect choice. Glass is non-porous, so jelly will not soak in or stain the jars. Glass also allows the vibrant colors of the jelly to show through. And using recycled jars is an environmentally-friendly way to create an oriole feeder on a budget.
But what size and shape jar works best? There are a few factors to take into consideration when selecting a used glass jar for your DIY oriole jelly feeder:
Jar Shape
A wide-mouthed jar that is short and stout is preferable to a tall narrow jar. The opening needs to be wide enough for an oriole to easily dip its beak inside to feed. At least a 3 inch opening is ideal, with a 4 inch opening being even better to accommodate the oriole’s wingspan as it feeds. A short, squat shape also provides ample interior surface area for the jelly while reducing the risk of tipping compared to taller vessels.
Jar Size
In terms of volume, small jelly jars around 8 ounces are a good starter size for an oriole feeder. But even a 4 ounce jelly jar can work. Larger jars from 16-24 ounces are also great to provide more sustained feeding capacity. Pint sized canning jars around 16 ounces are a common choice. Just keep in mind that larger jars will empty faster, so you’ll go through more jelly quickly. The birds will also need to perch on the sides of bigger jars.
Jar Volume | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
4 ounces | Use less jelly | Refills needed more often |
8 ounces | Good starter size | Still fairly small capacity |
16 ounces | Larger capacity | Jelly empties quickly |
24+ ounces | Maximizes jelly volume | Heavy when full, jelly used up fast |
Material
Glass is really the only way to go when it comes to the jar material. Glass allows you to clearly see the jelly color, is easy to clean, won’t degrade in sunlight, and provides a stable, non-tipping base. Any glass jar material will work like Mason jars or old spaghetti sauce, pickle, or jelly containers cleaned out and recycled for this project. Just avoid any jars with sharp, jagged edges around the rim.
Mounting the Jelly Jar Oriole Feeder
Once you’ve found the perfect jelly jar, the next step is to figure out how to mount it to make a complete feeding station for the orioles. You have several options when it comes to mounting your repurposed jelly jar oriole feeder.
Fence Hanging
A simple way to display your jelly feeder is to hang it from a fence or post using twine, string, or even metal hardware like a hook. Tie the string around the narrow top part of the jar leaving a long tail. Toss the string over the top of a fence post or deck railing and pull to hoist the jar up to the desired hanging height. This creates a very DIY feeder, but it leaves the jar susceptible to swinging and spinning.
Bracket Mounting
A more stable approach is to use small shelf brackets attached to a wall, eave, or post to hold up the jelly jar. The jar can rest securely on the brackets without swinging. Just be sure to position the wall brackets far enough from the wall so the birds have room to perch and feed. Brackets can be found at most hardware stores.
Holder With Perches
For a more polished look and enhanced functionality, you can purchase an Oriole feeder made of metal or plastic that has built-in perches and a holder or tray for the jelly jar. These feeders allow for easy refilling by just sliding a new jar in but provide sturdy perching spots for the birds. There are many decorative feeder styles available for sale or you can find DIY plans online to make your own.
Where to Position Your Jelly Feeder
To increase the chances of orioles discovering and using your feeder, proper placement and positioning is key.
Location
Hang or mount the jelly feeder in a bright, open area of your yard. Orioles prefer to feed higher up, so suspend it around 5-7 feet high or elevated above ground level. Near trees generally works better than an exposed area. A lightly shaded spot is ideal so the jelly doesn’t melt too quickly in hot sun.
Visibility
Orioles rely heavily on sight when foraging, so make the feeder visible. Orange halves, oranges slices, or orange rinds can help the birds spot the jelly feeder more easily. Position it where orioles can see it while flying over your yard.
Shelter
Have trees or bushes within 10-15 feet of the feeder where the orioles can take cover after feeding. Nearby branches also provide landing spots for approaching the food. Just don’t place the feeder directly against or right beside vegetation or it will impede access.
Reduce Competition
Situate the jelly feeder in an area away from other bird feeders if possible. This prevents larger aggressive birds like grackles from taking over and intimidating the orioles.
When to Put Out Your Oriole Jelly Feeder
Timing is key when it comes to offering jelly to attract orioles. Be sure to have your feeder up and jelly available during the windows when orioles are most likely to visit your area:
- Spring Migration: Mid April – Early May
- Nesting Season: May
- Fall Migration: Late August – Mid October
Don’t put the feeder out too early in the year or you may miss the arrival of the orioles. Similarly, taking it down too soon in the fall risks depriving the birds of needed food before migration. Refer to your local sightings and activity reports to determine the prime periods for your location.
Caring for Your Jelly Oriole Feeder
To keep your repurposed jelly jar oriole feederclean and appealing for the birds, just follow these simple maintenance tips:
- Use fresh jelly and change it out every 3-5 days, or more frequently in hot weather
- Wash the jar thoroughly with mild soap and water after emptying
- Rinse away any dried sugary residue inside the jar
- Avoid any scented jellies or added flavors besides pure fruit juice
- Refresh water in companion fruit and nectar feeders daily
- Take feeder down and store inside when not in use during migration seasons
Proper hygiene and fresh food will keep your backyard orioles satisfied and healthy. Maintaining a clean feeding station is crucial.
Conclusion
Repurposing a used jelly jar into an oriole feeder is simple, affordable way to enjoy the beauty of orioles in your yard. Select a short, wide-mouthed glass jar in the 4-24 ounce range for the best accessibility. Mount the jar on a wall bracket, hanger, or purpose-built holder in an open, elevated location. Time the jelly feeder’s deployment for spring and fall migration windows when orioles are active in your area. With the right jelly jar feeder set up and proper care, you’ll be rewarded with regular oriole visits!