Ferocious Cardinals

It's High Noon in cardinal land.  These now-aggressive devils have been singing up a storm all week: some of it the "Birrrr-dee Birrr-dee" variety, some the whistly "Eeer-Eeer-Eeer", and some the "Whooop Whooop Whooop".  At least three males are close by--roughly posted to my north, northeast, and southwest.  Even my bird-challenged neighbor specifically commented on the cardinals and their conspicuous repertoire.  I can't blame him: one bird is attacking his rear view mirrors!  Now, I don't think they're quite nesting.  It is hard to say but I see rather more of the females than I would expect at this point in April.  Which may explain the uber-territoriality of the males.  Whatever may be true, the males are wound tight and are letting the world know about it.

Cardinal Singing Madness

The early morning songfest has been getting loud and crowded.  I'm even having trouble picking out individual birds as early as 6AM.  Certainly there are wrens, titmice, chickadees, and robins.  But the loudest to my mind are these Northern Cardinals.  Their clear whistles really stand out in the crowd.  And based on the number of songsters, it's a good bet our neighborhood represents a lot of territories.  I am fairly certain our property is split between two cardinal baronies, and possibly three.  And there is a major adjacent property to our north across the street.  The various males are battling at two of the feeder stations, which may be borders.  Happily for them, there's enough support for many cardinals.  We have nice tangly stream buffers, and at least one fellow puts out dependable seed sources.  We should be seeing our first nest attempts soon.  Keep the songs going, guys!

Even More Songsters

Yesterday morning's wren-in-song may indeed have inspired a lot more territorial disputation.  The predawn today musical scene was far more active--even riproaring.  I heard several Carolina Wrens this time, and one or two Northern Cardinals.  I made some effort to pick out "lesser" voices, but the wrens were loud enough to thwart this.  However, I'm a-listenin', as they say, to whatever else may come on line.  Certainly we can expect American Robins, Carolina Chickadees, and Tufted Titmice.  They're not bashful as a rule.  And bluebirds, either of the nuthatch species, mockingbirds, and White Throated Sparrows are all a possibility this early in the season.  It shall be most interesting to check them off as February progresses.

First Morning Singer

The signs are mounting daily that spring is on its way.  For example I've heard Upland Chorus Frogs singing for some days and I've seen some hints of blooms on shrubs and trees.  And this morning there was yet another sign: birdsong before sunrise.

Winter predawns are eerily quiet, broken (at ~5:50 AM) only by the sounds of distant automobiles.  Today that changed as I heard a lone Carolina Wren announcing itself with the well-known "Cheeseburger Cheeseburger Cheeseburger" pattern of song. 

I am not surprised.  The wrens are among those birds that I expect to get the first brood going early in the spring.  It would be expected that they're thinking about locating a nest site and giving extra attention to their territorial interests.  It will be interesting to see if this song stirs up even more activity.