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See Below for the Index of Previous "Notes"
self portrait - circa 1996

 

Our recommendation:  avoid high-fructose corn sweeteners

no high-fructose corn syrupWhat we have learned about offering jelly (that contains high-fructose corn sweetener or HFCS) to the Baltimore and orchard orioles, and other wildlife:

HFCS affects the satiety. Satiety (sa-TIE-uh-tee) is the bird's ability to feel satisfied or to have a feeling of fullness created by what it is eating. The HFCS manipulates the portion of the bird's brain that regulates its hunger upsetting the balance in its diet. When we offer jellies that contain this sweetener, the birds are not eating much else.  This is raising concerns among birding experts, since the oriole's main diet consists of insects, and then fruit and nectar.  During nesting season when most birds' diets naturally change to insects, which provide the high protein needed for raising strong babies, if grape jelly with HFCS is readily available that is pretty-much what they are feeding their young.

There are many reports on the affects of HFCS in our diets and how bad it is for us.  Experts say that it may also be contributing to the growing obesity problem in our children.  Let's not risk what it could be doing to some of our most beautiful songsters, the orioles, too! 

Our area hosts the Baltimore and orchard oriole in summer.  Baltimore orioles are flaming orange and black. Orchard orioles are smaller and a deeper cinnamon-orange color; the females of both species are drab yellow, gray and white and are often mistaken for a warbler.  Orchard orioles are more common in the lower third of the state.

What we recommend you do to safely attract the Baltimore, orchard orioles, and other fruit and nectar eating birds:

1.  Do not offer grape jelly that contains high-fructose corn sweetener
2.  Do offer "natural" unsweetened jellies and fruits
3.  Do offer finely chopped dark red or black grapes
4.  Do offer fresh oranges
5.  Do offer "rendered" and safe for summer feeding, high-quality pure beef suet, not just animal fats
6.  Do offer roasted mealworms

When making nectar with either white table sugar or using our Best 1 brand nectar mix, always mix four parts water to one part powder. J.J.'s recipe for feeding orioles:
    · one 20 oz. container BirdBerry Jelly
    · one cup finely chopped dark red seedless grapes
    · one 3.5 oz. package dry-roasted mealworms
    · one 12 oz. cake grated Orange Suet Dough

Stir all ingredients to blend, fill your oriole feeders, and store unused portion in a sealed contained in the refrigerator up to one week, or longer in the freezer. Orioles love it, and the BirdBerry jelly, mealies, and orange suet dough in this recipe are all basic store stock at J.J.'s if you need them.

Louise Dawson
on behalf of the the Naturalists at J.J. Cardinals
more info also on Facebook

 

Previous "Louise Notes" articles:

03/06/13
02/17/13
11/05/12
05/29/12
04/06/12
11/05/11
09/25/11
04/23/11
01/14/11
11/02/10
10/01/10
09/22/10
07/01/10
06/25/10
01/01/10
09/20/09
09/03/09
07/16/09
05/21/09
02/22/09
01/20/09
11/14/08
07/13/08
04/18/08
02/12/08
02/10/08
09/14/07
09/12/07
06/24/07
05/08/07
04/17/07
03/05/07
06/08/06
03/14/06
02/01/06
10/31/05
09/02/05
08/22/05
07/27/05
07/04/05
04/01/05
11/22/04
08/01/04
06/03/04
05/01/04
02/05/04
01/31/04
11/12/03
09/09/03
08/21/03
06/15/03
06/12/03
04/09/03
04/08/03
03/15/03
03/03/03
01/16/03
11/13/02
10/20/02
09/27/02
09/24/02
09/23/02
07/31/02
07/07/02
06/23/02
06/05/02
05/17/02
05/14/02
12/04/01

Thread Creek Farm to Offer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture program)
Are you ready to grow some big sunflowers?
The freshest birdseed in town
Pulmonic puff - Wild Turkeys & sounds of courtship
Something to crow about...
Custom Line Drawings
Sunflower Growing Contest Winners
Sunflower Growing Contest
We're working to improve - the process never ends
Clarence the cardinal holds special meaning for J.J. Cardinal's owner
Deer in the Meadow
Planting Fall Seeds
Joy Is in the doing
Observations from Home
Low-tech by design
"New" and Older - both can be good
Tips for hummingbird feeding (or, our customers say the darnedest things)
Nyjer® v. Niger....Let's just call it Thistle
The 3/50 Project: Saving Businesses & Our Nation
Spring News at JJ Cardinal's
Feeder Pools: it's fun to spread the joy
Staycations: shifting our focus inward
We're Proud To Support Our Country
Self Healing - One Seed At A Time
The Source May Change, But Not The Quality
It's about cotton-pickin' time...
Whatever it takes...
What's In A Name?
Nature responds to things "simple"
We're Part Of The Global Economy
Our 16th Year Publishing JJ Cardinal's Notebook
Baby Shower Month
Chasing Our Tail (a true tale)
What Kind of Feeders Does J.J. Cardinal Use?
Do we really need three state birds?
Introduce Us To Your Friends With A Gift and/or Gift Certificate
Little things mean a lot
Goodness, it is hot out there!
It Starts With Quality
Environmentally Friendly & Effective Cleaners
Earth Day Celebration: a natural opportunity
thanks to many
Product Alert: Woodlink® Tubes
History of Father's Day
History of Mother’s Day ...and a lovely remembrance
alternatives to poisonous chemicals
How To Keep Your Tube Feeders Inviting
Let Us Know How We Can Make Your Day Special
Best Wishes To Our Friend, Linford
Gentle and unassuming, Ted Black visits J.J. Cardinal’s
Writing Contest Winners
Model T Caravan Roars Past J.J. Cardinal's
Nest Box Discovery: Double Decker
Early Birds Sent Us Soaring
Wild turkeys: our winter flock
Got Robins?
Short Story Competition: Youth
Active Education
When To Feed
Cleaning bird feeders
West Nile virus
When to take hummer feeders down in fall?
Better than Disney
Our Staff Makes The Difference
Just Rewards
Birding Leads to Butterflying
Position Baffles Correctly & They'll Do The Job
Day Trip to Tawas (Michigan)
Our Anniversary

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J.J. Cardinal's Wild Bird & Nature Store ®
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12830 S. Saginaw St., Grand Blanc, MI  48439  810-695-8733
03/19/13  illustrations, text & fun © J.J. Cardinal's 1992-2013
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