Counting those Baltimore birds

South Carolina takes pride in reporting the largest number of Baltimore orioles in the country.  And, for the first time, the annual survey received a report from Oconee County. The state DNR is interested in the status and distribution of the colorful songbirds that winter in South Carolina.  If you currently have Baltimore orioles coming to your feeders or have had them in past years, DNR urges you to take part.  The official survey period will run Friday through Monday, February 18-21.  Normally, the birds winter in southern Florida, the Caribbean, Central and South America.  However, during the last several decades, they have been wintering along the East Coast in greater abundance.