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| Male Cardinal: Probably the most well-known bird to the Public |
In the past, I've had frequent Cardinal visits - but only over the whole of the winter season - but this year, I've been fortunate to see several pairs of Cardinals appear daily. I'm not quite sure what causing the regular attraction to my feeding station this year, since I'm not offering anything different in the way of seed or layout. Cardinals tend to be most interested in my sunflower seed feeder, although I've read that they also feed on safflower seeds - yet I've never witnessed them feeding from my safflower feeder. Cardinal more often than not are seen feeding on the ground.
I find it sort of fascinating that the male Cardinal with its bright red appearance would prefer to feed at ground level given the greater likelihood that it would be a target for predators. On that note, besides being prey for cats and snakes, it is also prey for hawks, owls, crows, and falcons. Squirrels have also been known to attack and eat nesting fledglings. Raccoons and foxes also appear on the list of Cardinal predators.
It's interesting to note that its rare for me to see a male or female feeding alone at the feeding station without their opposite sex in close proximity. This is one of the few birds that prefers to travel and feeds as pairs. As understood, the male Cardinal is bright red with a pointed crown, strong beak, and a black mask, and the female is nearly identical in over all look with the exception that its a tan color over all
Diet
When its not enjoying the bountiful seeds at neighborhood feeders, the diet of the Cardinal consists mostly of insects, wheat seed, fruits, and flower buds. Cardinals feed on Holly, Grape, Red cedar, Field Cricket, Cabbage White, Lamb's Quarters, Crabgrass, Blackberry, Dogwood, Smooth Sumac, and Virginia Rose (source: fcps.edu).
According to Cornell.edu, the range of the Cardinal has expanded from South to North in just over the past 100 years. Cardinals were found along the Mississippi Valley in the late 1880s, and only occasionally north of the Ohio River during that time period. Steadily the Northern Cardinal expanded its migration and apparently adapted to its new climate and surroundings. I was shocked to learn that Connecticut's first documented Northern Cardinal Nest was found in 1943, and in Massachusetts in 1958. Since that time, its has expanded its range to Southern Canada. This is a pretty amazing fact when you consider that my grandparents had likely grown up in Connecticut having never seen a Cardinal until they reached their 30s or 40s. I guess this is evidence that unexpected changes in our environment can occur in our lifetime - even those with a positive twist!
Cardinals are said to be territorial birds but yet as mentioned I've seen more than one pair peacefully feeding within a few inches from one another. The territorial aspect of their behavior may be limited to nesting rather than overall chasing members of their species away from feeders as I often see occur between woodpeckers.
Studies show that Cardinals tend to reside within a small area for their lifetime, thus they do not migrate. It's likely that it a fledgling moves into your area, it will find a mate and remain your neighbor for the rest of its lifetime which can be between 10 to 14 years.
Nesting Cycle and Reproduction
Cardinals usually mate between March and early summer at a rate of two to three times a season. They tent to nest in shrubs, thickets, and vines about five feet above the ground. Nesting materials include leaves, twigs, grass, roots, tree bark, pine needles, trash, and paper.
The eggs are usually pale or grey with speckles, or blots of purple, grey and brown, and are about an inch in diameter. Nests usually contain three to four eggs. The usual cycle consists of the eggs hatching over a 13 days period with the female caring for the brood while the male retrieves food. After about 10 days, the female abandons the the nest to start a new nest, and the male takes on the full responsibility for overseeing the fledglings including food retrieval.
It's also been reported that Catbirds have been known to lay their eggs in Cardinal nests. Cardinals will not kill the Catbird fledgling but rather raise it as one of its own. Since the laws of natural selection tend to show that half of the babies born from a Cardinal nest do not survive beyond a year or two, the Catbird's inclusion in a Cardinal nest contributes to mediocre odds for Cardinal procreation.
The overall state of the Cardinal population is fairly stable although as mentioned they've become more abundant in Northern North America. Cardinals are able to adapt to human populations and in fact, do rather well given that humans beings provide a wealth of foods through feeders or man-made landscaping beautification. Cardinals and humans did not necessarily start off on a good foot since back in the 1700s and early 1800s they were trapped and sold as pets within the United States and Europe. It wasn't until Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, that this terrible practice was deemed illegal.
A Strange Curiosity
I may be a sucker for odd stories, but several people have conveyed that Cardinals seem to be more aware of humans and recognize the pattern of people refiling feeders. Cardinals have been known to make eye contact with humans inside a home, pick up empty sunflower shells, and drop them as if it indicate its time for someone- a hem - to refill the sunflower seed feeder. I haven't witnessed this behavior, but if anyone has please let me know.
The only other pretty well accepted bit of trivia is that the Cardinal is said to get its name from the illusion to the bright red garments and pointed hat worn by a traditional Catholic Cardinals.
During my research of Cardinals for this entry I found a great Cardinal video at this link. Very entertaining to watch the male cardinal's reaction to having to share seed with other species. (Guess being a mid-size bird has its advantages!)
This original blog entry can be found at www.randel.blogspot.com
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