Cardinal Update

Our very impressive cardinal season continues to the gates of fall.  We have a good many birds this year, proving that we have a good habitat.  Most of the adults have finished molting and the young ones look a lot more like adults.  Our north face seems to be a territorial divide so I can count on some disputes between different clans.  I imagine that this stuff will start to decline as cold weather draws near.  And as I also imagine most of these birds will make it through winter, some interesting doings are likely for 2015!  So all is happy in the cardinal community here!

Abundant Cardinals

Northern Cardinals have notched another very good year here in the land of Cary BirdCam.  And I can enjoy quite a few of them.  For one, my property appears to be a borderland between at least two family groups, so we see posturing and combat and multiple visitors to feeders.  I am yet unclear when "interlopers" are tolerated, but the feeders generally seem to be "open" in the birds' minds.  Second, we have a great cardinal-friendly habitat and abundant food.  For some years we have seen a generous supply of young birds.  I must be providing both healthy environment as well as predator-unfriendly terrain.  All in all, this is a great place to see red!

Cardinal Molt

There is a point in the late spring when the Cardinals shed.  And it is the stuff of weirdness.  The birds lose feathers in huge patches and their blue-black skin is exposed.  Friends who have seen this panic: are they diseased, they ask?  Not at all.  The spring nesting season takes its toll on the birds and a new suite of feathers comes up to complete the summer.  This episode never lasts long, but it does make for some very different imagry!

Juvenile Cardinal on Scene

I have been getting a good look at a young Northern Cardinal these days.  Our cardinals, I believe, are truly happy campers.  We offer plenty of shelter, water, food and tangly growth.  And if they find themselves in a sort of birdy Bel Air, they are definitely healthy enough to generate sturdy fledglings.  This particular one has taken to the north side feeders where there's great cover and sunflower seed galore.  And if recent history is an indicator, this little one will be in some serious competition from the many cardinals we attract.  It will be fun to watch this one get a leg up on things.

Scratch Ground is Quite the Magnet

Ever since I removed an overgrown juniper in the summer of 2012, I've maintained(?) a sort of scratch ground under the streetside feeders.  It's a popular place for ground feeders and feeder birds alike.  Cardinals are frequently seen there, and I can count on towhees, White Throated Sparrows, House Finches, and others on a regular basis.  Cover is available fairly close by so the birds are reasonably secure and cannot be ambushed any longer by cats.  I get a hoot watching doings in the scratch ground in good weather, but can't see much when I'm indoors in winter.  Such is life.  But mind you, come the Great Backyard Bird Count my binoculars will be scanning this scratch ground a good deal.  It's too good a magnet!

Water Matters Even in Winter

One of the key requirements to Certified Wildlife Habitat designation is providing a source of water to backyard wildlife.  Even in the coldest parts of winter this is a critical need.  Birds do not seem to mind really cold water, partly to drink (necessary to digestion!) and partly to bath.  This Northern Cardinal still cleans its feathers in the dark reaches of December.  I expect there are still parasites and dirt that get in and must be worked out.  We have had excellent success with a shallow pedestal bath and an associated shallow ground level bath.  Both permit the birds to get in at an acceptable level of water and yet give space for what needs to be done.  And, in winter I have a deicer running constantly that keeps the water at least at 34F.  The equipment is very inexpensive (under $40) and if maintained properly will last for years.  And trust me, the sight of all those birds at the baths on a cold day is a heartwarmer!  they're happy--and we're happy.

Last Cardinal Juveniles of the Season

This is a great photo of one of the last cardinal juveniles of the year.  This bird was likely fledged in the past six weeks and has not yet acquired the distinctive sign of an adult: the orange bill.  This young female should pick that up before too long.  They'll all be properly plumed by winter.  But this is the time to appreciate the young ones and the cycle of life during a gentle warm time.  I hope this one builds up enough strength to last during the cold time.

Young Cardinals Going Strong

Our Class of 2013 Northern Cardinals continue to look good---and alive---as we knock on the door to August.  I believe we have at least two juveniles on the property and these birds are doing just nicely adapting to the feeder system and the challenges of getting seeds in the face of a mob of House Finches.  One seems to prefer the back platform feeder, the other the scratch ground on the opposite side of the house.  It won't be long before the dark juvenile features drop away and the birds get their adult winter plumage.  I may only see these youngster looks for a few weeks!  But we will have a good pulse of them into the winter, when Cardinals truly shine.  Can't wait!

It's Molt Time!

I get a pretty good idea when breeding season has come to an end when I see the Big Molt.  Several species here are conspicuous molters, and none more obvious than the Northern Cardinals.  They show off their blue (black?) skin as they drop feathers.  What's going on?  It's a simple sign that the Cardinals (and others) have gotten pretty depleted as a result of raising young.  Their worn and stressed feathers get replaced with new plumage that will carry them into the hard times this winter.  It's a hoot to see even if the birds are not that embarrassed! 

Cardinal Update

Our little piece of the planet has been a fine place indeed for Northern Cardinals.  For years they've enjoyed all they could ask: tangly vines, plenty of cover, and lots of sunflower and safflower seeds.  Multiple pairs breed in the immediate area every year and youngsters seem to be growing up just fine.  They are even so pleased with the arrangements they are confidently out all hours of the day.  Some of my peers don't tend to see them so much in broad daylight.  I don't know if we can do better, but I am mindful that our native vegetation program may yield some cardinal-friendly species, especially among seed- and fruit bearers.  We shall see what comes.  For now, it is a cardinal happy place!

First Juvenile Cardinal of 2013

One by one the first juveniles of the season are making their presence known.  I have already seen the first young House Finch, suspected a White Breasted Nuthatch, and plausibly a first chickadee.  This weekend saw the arrival of one or two young cardinals.  The bird(s) in question were already finding food for themselves and didn't beg at any time.  And they sure look strange!  I am looking for peers from other species.  Bluebirds? woodpeckers? wrens?  We shall soon see!

Cardinal Wars

The front yard feeder station has become a battlefield.  At least among the Northern Cardinals.  I have seen as many as four males coverging in the area -- and as you can imagine, they're combative.  Cardinal territories are fiercely contested in the spring and summer.  Wherever the lines lie, the alpha bird is not tolerating the other males trying to grab a seed.  I've studied enough to think the lines of at least three territories must converge nearby.  This is a change from last year when there was toleration at the southeast station and I didn't see much fighting elsewhere.  That is the way it goes.  I'm pretty pleased our conditions are so cardinal-friendly that we have many breeding pairs.  And they'll survive the combat.  It might even be fun to watch the aerial dogfights!

Cardinals Noisy, Busy

Our friends the Northern Cardinals have been a busy lot these past many weeks.  With our property being prime real estate for cardinals, the territorial disputes are fierce and occur all around the house.  Feeders are bitterly fought over.  I suppose that my safflower seed offerings are quite a sales point for these aggressive birds--males and females alike.  And of course, they sing quite loudly from their various perches and are back to attacking rear view mirrors.  Quite the to-do, as they say.  I am assuming they're getting well into a breeding round and I am expecting to see some ungainly youngsters some time next month.  It had better be worth the fuss!

2012 Backyard Bird of the Year

There has been a lot to appreciate about our various backyard birds in 2012, and it seems apt to honor the standouts.  Hence I've decided to nominate a Cary BirdCam Backyard Bird of the Year in appreciation for the standout.  There were several good choices: the bluebirds had a great year, the wrens were pure entertainment, and Hermie the Thrush was in top form.  But this year's winner is the Northern Cardinal.  Here's my reasoning for awarding the prize to "Big Red".  First, they did so well in our habitat with a standout breeding year and several broods.  Second, they surprised me with tube- and suet-feeding that was unexpected.  Third, they annoyed the neighbors...or at least one crazed male made such an impression attacking rear view mirrors they're still wrapping them in plastic!  How can you beat that kind of fun?  So cardinals, thank you for such a great year!  You're marvelous!

Cardinal Update

I think it's been rather a while since my last Northern Cardinal update.  Hence it is high time to remedy the omission!  And this winter things look simply marvelous for our resident cardinals.  They have plenty of their favorite seeds (safflower ranks high) and perfect habitat---lots of tangly cover, even in winter.  We continue to watch a family group although some of the members from late summer appear to have peeled off, perhaps (or we hope) to new situations.  I think we have eased traditional cardinal skittishness as well, as our cardinals feed all hours of the day.  Granted, they seem to like sunrise and sunset the best, but they are easy to find in broad daylight.  And the color! in winter, cardinals do truly shine.  It will be a fine season for these marvelous birds...

That Crazed Cardinal

It's so close to November I can smell it.  (Or is that pumpkin pie?)  But we have a crazed Northern Cardinal that is still enforcing territory by attacking rear view mirrors in the neighborhood.  I would expect that sort of thing to be long done, say, by July.  Seems this fellow has a little too much male cardinal mojo and just perhaps he's messed up for the year.  I will be interested to see if the attacks continue through the winter.  Quite strange!

Still Crazy

I mentioned yesterday the largely contented cardinals in our north scratch ground.  I didn't mention that at least one male is not contented.  He is in fact still obsessed with the territorial imperative.  I watched this crazed fellow a bit on Sunday.  He was attacking the rear view mirrors of a neighbor's vehicle---something all of the neighborhood cardinals were doing all spring.  I suppose not all of them have quite reached non-breeding mode after all!  It is also terribly interesting that only the cardinals manifested this particular behavior: seeing other males in the mirrors.  And as I recall, it was more widespread than any year I recall here.  Are they all crazy?  will the craziness continue?

Beating the Heat

On a day like we and many in the eastern USA experienced today, birds take advantage of water sources, and my two bird baths were certainly busy places.  Just before I posted this I observed and tried photographing this juvenile Northern Cardinal splashing about.  Even in the shade the early evening temperature is still in the triple digits!  I'll be sure to keep those baths full all weekend and give at least a few birds a great opportunity to beat the heat.

Young Cardinal Showing his Colors

It looks like our first wave Northern Cardinal juvenile is doing quite well and even picking up some adult colors.  And we now know this one would be a male.  We obtained this BirdCam photo at the safflower "cafe" where cardinals, Mourning Doves, and others seem to enjoy the food and the view. But if Junior Cardinal wants to keep that red coming some foods higher in beta carotene need to be found!  I also know that there are at least two cardinal juvvies, having just watched yesterday another with noticeably darker adornments.  Let's keep those young cardinals coming!

Another Juvenile Debuts

Well, it's about time!  With all of the fussing the Northern Cardinals have made this year (especially from the uber-aggressive males) I have been wondering just when I might see the first juvenile cardinal.  And that would be today.  Notice the distinctive dark bill: the characteristic field mark for a cardinal youngster.  This one was bold enough to perch on the north side feeders, but was very jittery and wasn't up there long.  I expect I'll see him or her again soon.  And that brings our 2012 juvenile species count to six!