On June 7, 2005, I was in Central City Park in Macon where a disjunct population of Baltimore Orioles has been nesting for at least fifteen years, perhaps more. The reason for the birds choosing the site is not well known because it is so far south of their normal nesting range. The park, however, has ideal habitat for Baltimore Oriole nesting in that it is an open area containing huge mature hardwoods. Some of the Sweetgums in which they are often found are probably one hundred years old. The park dates back into the 1880's. In this ideal setting, from April until late summer, you can observe Baltimore Orioles and Orchard Orioles by parking near the gazebo and walking into an open spot where you can see the bright males and less gaudy females flying around. Look for the nests, like the one in the photo, in the larger deciduous trees. They will not be in the magnolias or the oaks, but on the end of a higher branch of a sweet gum or some other very large broad-leafed tree. The bird in the photo appears to be a first year male.

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