One of the first tasks in my new home was to set up bird
feeders off my deck. In Northport, I'd not been able to attract cardinals to my feeders because they didn’t like my woodsy
environment. I hoped they’d like
my new surroundings better with its shrubby areas.
I made sure my two new feeders had feeding platforms, which
cardinals prefer.
A small Black-capped chickadee was the first to arrive at the
No-Mess Feeder, with its blend of sunflower chips, hulled millet, and shelled
peanuts.
It enjoyed the Seed Cylinder too with mealworms, sunflower
chips, peanuts, raisins, and cranberries. But still no cardinals.
A few days later, as I was passing through my living room, I
caught sight of a red splotch in the Rose of Sharon bush next to my
feeders. Could it be?? Yes, it was a beautiful male Northern
Cardinal! My excitement was
palpable.
It took another few days before I saw a cardinal actually
visit a feeder, and this time it was a female. Its heavy red bill matched its red wings and tail.
And soon the vibrant male joined its mate at the seed
cylinder.
Looks like the cardinals are delighting in the new
habitat. What a cheery gift they've become on these snowy wintry days!
Beautiful images, Karen. And lucky you to be able to get cardinals at your feeders!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jan. I feel really lucky after so many years of missing cardinals. They are such lovely birds.
ReplyDeleteLove that splashy red of the male Cardinal, but the female has a beauty all her own - those graceful layers of tail feathers in the last pic could be part of a beautiful gown!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jackie. I agree that the female is a beauty in her own right too, and those tail feathers are certainly part of it.
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