Orioles do consume nectar. That's probably what they're after.
On Tue, May 15, 2018, 2:43 PM Melanie Uhlir wrote:
> I have very much been enjoying the glorious and fragrant blossoms of
> crabapple trees, especially at the collection of said trees in the F.R.
> Newman Arboretum. I have further been delighted by the frequenting of
> these trees by orioles (I've only seen males so far). I am curious if
> anyone knows what they are gleaning from the buds and blossoms. They do
> not appear to be eating the buds or flower petals. They delicately put
> the bills in the blossoms, coming away with something that is invisible
> to me. Nectar? Pollen? Tiny insects? Stamens? Whatever they are doing it
> is certainly lovely to watch. And they like it so much that I saw two
> males in one tree seemingly oblivious to each other.
>
>
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