The bright yellow and orange of a Baltimore oriole seems aflame as it dashes through the trees’ upper reaches. It is a tropic splendor in our northern sky. I always look forward to seeing a few of this remarkable bird species being around at this time of year.
The bird was called the Baltimore oriole because its thrilling plumage matched the coat of arms’ colors of a 17th century nobleman named George Calvert. He was Lord Baltimore,and the Maryland state flag still bears these striking colors. His land grant was north of the Potomac.
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