Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The Cardinal - The Joy of the Season and Yearround

THE NORTHERN CARDINAL IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL OUR BIRDS. SEVEN STATES IN THE EASTERN U.S. COUNT THE NORTHERN CARDINAL AS THEIR STATE BIRD. 
 
 CARDINALS ARE NAMED AFTER OFFICIALS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, CALLED CARDINALS WHO WEAR RED ROBES. THE MALE CARDINAL IS ALL RED WITH A CREST AND HAS BLACK ON HIS FACE AROUND THE BASE OF A REDDISH BILL. THE FEMALE CARDINAL IS BUFFY BELOW AND GRAYISH BROWN ABOVE. SHE HAS A REDDISH BILL WITH REDDISH TINTS ON HER CREST , WINGS AND TAIL. THE JUVENILE CARDINAL IS SEEN IN SUMMER AND LOOKS SIMILAR TO THE FEMALE BUT HAS A DARK GRAY BILL. 
 
 IT IS THOUGHT THAT CARDINALS MATE FOR LIFE. THEY MAKE A NEST OF TWIGS, BARK STRIPS, AND LEAVES, PLACED IN DENSE SHRUBBERY OR SMALL TREE. THEY LAY 2 TO 5 EGGS OF A BUFF WHITE COLOR WITH DARK MARKS. CARDINALS MAY NEST OR BROOD 1 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR. DURING MATING THE MALE CARDINAL MAY BE SEEN FEEDING THE FEMALE AND THE MALE ALSO SHARES THE FEEDING OF THE YOUNG WITH THE FEMALE. 
 
 BOTH MALE AND FEMALE CARDINALS SING A SERIES OF CLEAR WHISTLES THAT VARY , LIKE " WHOIT WHOIT, CHEER CHEER CHEER" AND ALSO MAKE A CALL THAT SOUNDS LIKE A METALLIC "CHIP." 
 
 CARDINALS READILY COME TO FEEDERS. THEY PREFER SUNFLOWER SEED BUT ALSO EAT SAFFLOWER SEED, CRACKED CORN OR MIXED SEED. CARDINALS ENJOY BIRDBATHS FOR DRINKING AND BATHING. 
 
 CARDINALS ARE SYMBOLS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE OF THEIR BEAUTY AND CHEERFULNESS. I HOPE THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF CARDINALS LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND ALL YEAR LONG. 

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