Singing “its head off,” I knew immediately what to look for near the treetops across Lizard Creek. As I suspected, the producer of that cheery singing was a male Baltimore oriole.

It was May 3. He appeared to be quite content with this territory as he flew from one budding red maple to another, almost always perching near the top of the trees.

Male orioles are a striking mixture of bright orange, black and some white feathers thrown in as if to highlight it even more for your pleasure. Males have an all-black head and back, and both males and females have the noticeable white wing bars.

A few days later, I noticed a pair in my yard and from their actions; I believe they found the “territory” to their liking. They apparently like the numerous Bradford pear trees, and I observed both sexes even hanging “parakeet like” upside down to glean any insects they could find there. Baltimore orioles do have a varied diet of fruits and insects. However, when the young are in the nest, they feed them and themselves a diet of almost entirely insects for the higher protein. Their propensity for fruit can be a sore spot for orchard owners because they will cause some damage as the fruit ripens. However, since the orioles do migrate from the Times News area rather early, only the earliest variety of peaches are sometimes damaged.

You can try to attract them to your yards by cutting oranges in half and “skewering” them with the juicy half upright on a branch. They do sell oriole feeders similar to hummingbird feeders commercially. I watched a male oriole struggle for 15 minutes to grasp onto a slippery plastic hummingbird feeder and drink the sugary mixture. He must have shifted positions at least a dozen times and was quite comical to watch with sharp claws slipping on the hard plastic. Apparently the rewards were worth all the effort.

Female orioles build hanging basketlike nests by weaving together plant fibers, hair, grapevine bark, etc. They are usually suspended from a fork of the outer limits of a branch (I’m assuming to deter possible predators). They are difficult to find until the falling leaves reveal their location.

For a few years I draped pieces of yarn on the outer limbs of some conifers in my yard, and I noticed them intertwined in the now-abandoned nests. Rather surprisingly, she completes the intricate nest within a week or so. They have one brood (normally five eggs) which she incubates in this 8- to 9-inch-deep nest.

Baltimore oriole populations have been in a slow decline over the past 10-15 years, probably due to loss of habitat in Mexico and Central America where they spend the winter months. Pesticide use in those areas has an effect on them as well.

As I finished up this column just before daybreak I make this suggestion: Set the alarm earlier than usual one morning in the next few weeks, sit outside (if not in a downtown area) just as the sky is brightening and listen. Enjoy the singing of the robins, cardinals, Carolina and house wrens, vireos, mockingbirds, mourning doves, etc. knowing that by early to mid-July, nature’s cacophony of bird songs will slowly come to a disappointing halt as the breeding frenzy ebbs and the males slowly cease their singing. Remember, get out there and look and LISTEN. …

Test your outdoor knowledge: ______ are found in Pennsylvania. A. spotted turtles, B. stinkpot turtles, C. wood turtles, D. none of these, E. all of these

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.