Overdue Winter Recognition

I have not mentioned these fine birds in some time, and it seems just to make up the deficiency.  And that would be the Northern Cardinal: state bird of what, a quarter of the states of the union?  Well, overhyped they may be but we love them all the same.

Our Cardinal clan is still going strong this winter, with what appears to be six birds.  They have a fine habitat here with plenty of tangly growth, water, cover, and a good supply of what seems to be their favorite feeder food: safflower seed.  I find them most often at the two safflower feeders, but several birds congregate at the front yard sunflower stacks as well.  There they usually work below the feeders and seem to avoid cats quite well.  I never see red among any feathers that do turn up.  Otherwise I see them on the "Cardinal Tree": a dogwood where they can sit like ripe pieces of fruit.

Happy and well fed cardinals are surely likely to have a banner breeding season, which for them is not many weeks away.  And that will be a very happy time for the observers here, as well.