Tag Archives: Cardinals

Thursday – 9.21.2017

1;38 AM – This is a video from a few days ago – a Red-bellied Woodpecker dominating a couple of Blue Jays. Here it is again, with a soundtrack, an original score.

We try to keep the feeders filled up, but sometimes they can stay empty for half day or more. This Blue Jay is clearly not happy about it. I like the part where he snouts (or beaks) the chaff around, demonstrating the lack of the good stuff. At the end, I swear he understands that we’re seeing him on camera, and he’s sending us a clear message: “This is sloppy work, you backyard birders! It’s time for a fill-up!” Then turns his back on us.

There was a lot of traffic on the Squirrel Buster feeder today. We got video of these, in order of appearance: A big, bright Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee with unusual coloring, a Brown-headed Nuthatch, and a female Purple Finch (she’s brown striped, not purple). The Brown-headed Nuthatch is pretty rare in our yard.

Wednesday – 9.20.2017

3:35 AM – This Carolina Wren has no tail. We’ve seen this before, about six months ago. Since we’re inexperienced backyard-birders, we didn’t think the loss of tail feathers might be natural molting. We assumed it was caused by a narrow escape from a cat. Who knows, maybe it was, but molting is more likely. One way or another, the wren doesn’t have any trouble getting around.

This batch of Carolina Chickadees are in-and-out, one after another, while Mrs. Cardinal placidly grazes at the Squirrel Buster feeder. Chickadees are a lot of fun to watch.

 

 

Monday – 9.18.2017

1:24 AM – The Cardinals are getting their head feathers back, vivid red and thick, and it seems to make them aggressive. This video shows one male loudly confronting several doves.

We are delighted to see that the One-eared Squirrel is still around. We’re not so delighted to see that he seems to have adapted to the hot pepper seed. That stuff seems to repel most other squirrels, but most other squirrels aren’t as tough and resilient as the One-ear.

 

 

Saturday – 9.16.2017

1:44 AM – We moved some of the feeders to new locations, and pointed the cameras at them. This video of a Cardinal at the Squirrel Buster feeder is from that new set up. Otherwise, it’s just a clip of a  bird that likes to eat.

According to the Cornell Labs website, the Carolina Chickadee and the Black-capped Chickadee look pretty much the same, except for the more colorful sides/breast of the Black-capped. And more important, the location. The Black-capped Chickadees are found up North, and in the mid-west, while the Carolina’s are found in the South. Since we live in Alabama, this is probably a Carolina Chickadee, but it’s the most colorful Chickadee we’ve seen so far.

Friday – 9.15.2017

12:43 AM – The Red-bellied Woodpecker really dominates the feeder when he’s around. He actually pecks the other birds, instead of ‘displaying’ or feinting.

The Cardinal seems unperturbed by the doves he shares the feeder with, though he keeps a wary eye on the ones that get too close. I’m happy to see his post-molting feathers seem to be coming in nice and bright.

Wednesday – 9.13.2017

2:01 AM – The tail end of Hurricane Irma was supposed to pass through here yesterday, but really nothing much happened. In spite of forecasts of winds in the 30’s and up, all we got were some gentle breezes and gentle rain showers. We’d taken in all the feeders and cameras, but went ahead and put the deck platform setup  back into operation.

The “storm” didn’t stop the birds from eating. We got video of this wet Cardinal family having lunch.

Another survivor of the weather – this Carolina Wren seem more interested in chirping and hopping than eating. Something must be going on out of camera range.

 

Tuesday – 9.12.2017

12:02 AM – A couple of Blue Jays, peacefully feeding together, get evicted from the feeder by a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I don’t blame them – I’d get out of the way too. The Red-belly doesn’t stay long, and the Jay returns, after taking a good look around.

We’ve got a cardinal, a purple finch, a bluebird and what looks like a couple of goldfinches in the background, all at the same time.

Friday – 9.8.2017

12:23 AM – A few days ago we posted a video about the backyard birds getting along in the feeders (most of the time). We’ll follow up with a clip of a Cardinal standing up to a dove – but not fighting back. The dove isn’t really going for the throat. It seems to be more of a series of warning pecks. The Cardinal show considerable restraint. At the end of the video, both got back to peaceful grazing.

I think the Mourning Dove  must be mellowing (this one, anway). Here’s a Blue Jay eating with a dove watching – and no fireworks.  Maybe they’ve figured out there’s plenty for everyone.

Tuesday – 9.5.2017

12:22 AM – The birds in our yard spend all-day every-day eating from the same feeder, drinking from the same birdbath. We’ve seen plenty of videos of bird squabbling and ‘fighting’ for territory in the platform feeder. But a lot of the time, they seem to get along all right. Like this Cardinal and dove. Of course, when a Blue Jay shows up, it’s a different matter.

In the background is a Goldfinch getting a drink of water. We haven’t seen one for a while. In the foreground a Cardinal – looks like he’s finally getting his head feathers back.

Monday – 9.4.2017

12:47 AM – This encounter between a Cardinal and Blue Jay is intense. The Cardinal seems to be saying: “Hey! I’m molting! I’m not in the mood for this foolishness.”

The Cardinals seem to feed their young more than the other species – at least, in front of the cameras.