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I hurriedly took a few shots and saw that at one point the female flew over to the male, and literally nudged him... just one little push and he flew off. I assumed it was her way of asking him to Do Something! Maybe to create a distraction for the fox. There was a community outrage, as other birds flew over to see what was happening. I saw another Baltimore Oriole pair in a nearby tree and they too had been crying out. There is a mystery here as the other pair must have lost their nest and perhaps want to help the resident Orioles raise their young. I will research this a bit. The male must have been the one that was photographed in the fight a few days back.
Seeing and hearing all this fluttering about, I knew something was very wrong, and though I had an injured left shoulder I went outside to scope out the problem. As I was walking out, I saw a lovely gray fox, who was startled by my presence and dashed off before I could take a photo of her. I am not as quick with just one arm to work with. I then walked over closer to the area the birds had been eyeing with horror it seemed, and there hidden in the bishops weed, at the edge of a path was a baby Oriole. I felt so grateful I had hurried out, even if a bit sad for the fox, for she must feed her young as well. I thought to myself ... "Why not seek out the long eared rabbits!".
I stood still and in a short while the fledgling emerged and began climbing up on a raspberry or wild rose seedling. I could not help but notice its incredibly large feet, that it will shortly grow more in proportion to. The little one had a bit of trouble getting up as these photos show, but it did finally arrive at a comfortable mid range seating on the bended seedling. The parents soon came over and let me know I was not welcome. That is gratitude for you, but I did not wish to cause more anxiety or interfere with their helping the fledgling to a safe place for the night. I was speaking softly to the little one, while taking its portrait, and then seeing that it was safe, I left, so the parents could get on with their difficult job of caring for this baby bird and its siblings hiding safely elsewhere. I hear another fledgling in a nearby tree calling out and the little one on the ground would answer ... or more like they were both crying for their parents.
As I was leaving the garden, I saw a few dead branches in a hydrangea bush just next to a large seeding Viburnum. I wanted to take a picture, but did not appreciate the unsightly sticks, so I walk up towards the bush and all sorts of cries chimed out at me. The Cat Birds were all in a tizzy, so I knew they must have a nest right near where I was standing. It did not take me a minute to find it, and so I took a couple shots, while they screamed bloody murder, and other birds flew over to see what was going on. There was one just above me in a tree I could not identify but think it a warbler of some sort. I left right away with no harm done... all was well again ... for now... with no alarming calls floating through the gardens. I hoped for the best, for the little grounded Oriole.
Next morning I went out to check on the Oriole and it had moved into a safer place up in another Viburnum under the Japanese Tree Lilac, which offered it protection from the Broad-Winged Hawk, that was calling out and flying over the garden. I had not been near the fledgling long ... I had just wanted a few shots ... before the father landed in the Tree Lilac above me and he was holding a worm for the baby Oriole ... again he was not happy to see me so near his young. So I left the garden nursery to the birds and went inside to ice my shoulder. I love the little crown of fluff on the babies head. I surely admire the efforts and devotion of the Oriole parents and feel a kindredness in their helplessness in trying to protect their young. The hawks have keen vision, while a fox has superb olfactory organs and there are many other threats out of one's control. I wonder if parenting birds ever just pick up a baby gently with their claws and carry them to safety. If a hawk can do it, why not any bird... maybe it is a dangerous maneuver in itself. I will have to research this question and delve further into it within another post documenting a Blue Bird fledgling. Coming Soon.