This afternoon about an hour before the sun went down, I partially filled the bird feeder. I had forgotten to do it this morning when we returned from exercise. I knew that if I filled the feeder I would get to watch the cardinals.
For most of December we had four pairs of cardinals. I was fretting about the low number, but I knew that there were a lot of feeders throughout the neighborhood to the west of us, so I thought that the cardinals were just spread out a bit thin.
I was pleased to be able to count seven male cardinals this evening. It was interesting to see the pecking order going on. For the most part the cardinals will play nicely with other birds but insist on a pecking order within their own group.
As the light faded I could see the male cardinals flitting back and forth from their perches in the shrubs, but it was a lot more difficult to pick out the female cardinals, with their protective coloration. They blended right into the shrubbery, as they are meant to.
I don't know if the cardinal count will climb at all, but I plan to continue putting out a mix that will draw them.
Comments (2)
I love looking at birds and would love to able to welcome them into the garden more but daren't risk it, not with Nimrod the Mighty Hunter around!
I'm glad that you enjoy them too and encourange them into the garden.
Posted by Adele | February 12, 2006 5:42 AM
Posted on February 12, 2006 05:42
I'm really sad to report that Edward Scissorhands got one of the male cardinals last month. But, Bogie pointed out that we had saved more by feeding than we lost through ed and the hawk. I hope it all balances out to the good.
Posted by buffy | February 12, 2006 3:29 PM
Posted on February 12, 2006 15:29