What's in a name?

In 1632, Lord Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Baron Baltimore, sent deputies and his younger brother across the Atlantic with two ships belonging to his father, named the Ark and the Dove. These aptly named vessels played a crucial role in establishing the proprietary colony of Maryland. Although Lord Baltimore never visited Maryland, his legacy endures in the New World.

The family's coat of arms later inspired Maryland's future flag and a remarkable bird, but it was another Englishman who first documented the reference to Lord Baltimore. Mark Catesby was tasked with studying the colonies' flora and fauna between 1729 and 1747, eventually publishing the first account. He observed that the colonists of Virginia and Maryland referred to a colorful bird as "the Baltimore bird" because of its bright orange color, reminiscent of Lord Baltimore's coat of arms.

The Baltimore Oriole is a beloved harbinger of spring in North America, with most of its population wintering in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Orioles belong to the Icterus blackbird family, but their vibrant oranges and reds are more striking than the black. Attracted to food sources like oranges and bright red hummingbird feeders for nectar, these birds charm all backyard bird enthusiasts. Icterus is derived from the Greek ἴκτερος (íkteros, “jaundice”); the ictērus was a bird believed to cure jaundice when seen.

The Baltimore Oriole was designated the state bird of Maryland in 1947 and received special protection in 1882, which was 36 years before Congress enacted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that continues to protect our native birds today.

Here in Hempstead, we are enjoying the Baltimore Orioles and can see evidence of their feasting on our oranges. They often use a technique called gaping to create tunnels in the fruit with their beaks and then lick up the sweet juices inside.

Baltimore Oriole on Coral Bean

Lord Baltimore Coat of arms

Great Seal of the State of Maryland