Back to Update When the oriole returns to its nest in your backyard this spring, it will have just completed a remarkable round trip journey to Central America and back! The oriole is a Neotropical migrant. Orioles, like hummingbirds, breed in North America and winter south of the U.S. border. An amazing 333 bird species are neotropical migrants! Orioles will start to be seen in early April as they cross the Gulf of Mexico on their annual nonstop flight. As the journey continues, students across North America will report backyard sightings when the orioles return. Orioles and Leaf Out are Related! Be sure to report "leaf-out" of your trees. For many songbird species, the timing of spring migration may be related to leaf-out. This is because when leaves emerge, so do lots of insects. Songbirds may fuel their migration by following the leaf-out and eating the millions of insects available at that time. Orioles love oranges and grape jelly. Put these and nesting materials out to bring orioles into your school yard. Special note: String for nesting materials should be 5" or shorter--parents or babies can get tangled in longer pieces. Although it looks good, dryer lint should not be put out for birds, it doesn't hold up after a rain.