Edgar Fawcett asks this question in his poem. Who is there that may answer him? The Baltimore Oriole comes to us in early May and stays until about the first of September. This bird, sometimes called the Golden Robin, is a namesake of George Calvert, or Lord Baltimore, who was the first proprietor of Maryland. Indeed, he does seem “golden” as he flashes about among green leaves. However, he is a relation of the blackbirds, rather than of the robins.

Colors: The brilliant orange and black feathers of the Oriole are the marks by which the bird may be identified. The head, shoulders and neck, and the upper section of the back are of a gleaming black. The breast is of a bright orange, sometimes almost golden in its color.

Song: A loud, sometimes bold, whistle from the top of a sweeping elm tree often announces the presence of the Baltimore Oriole. He is a fine songster of considerable ability. His song is characterized by a richness that gives a truly musical quality to his efforts.

The same poet asks further:

Nest: The beautiful hanging nest of the Baltimore Oriole is often suspended from the end of the branch of some shade tree, where it sways with every passing breeze. It is composed of hair, strings, grasses, bark lining and other similar materials all closely interwoven with the greatest of skill. The eggs, four to six in number, are of a white color marked with wavy blackish lines and spots. This bird has been known to make very good use of yarn, string, and even strips of cloth, placed where they might easily be found and woven into the nest. Some nests built almost entirely of string have been found.