The word is out

image of a cardinal
@GardenGerty (157553)
United States
December 15, 2018 6:53pm CST
Every time I look out there are MORE cardinals out there in my yard. I think they have passed the word that I put out good treats and food. When I come to the door to try to take pictures the birds all fly away. So this fuzzy image is out my front window. I am behind my computer. The glass is double and there is a window screen as well, not to mention dirt on the glass. This is one of the many young male cardinals that are enjoying the abundance of feeding spots in my yard.
13 people like this
16 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
16 Dec 18
It was not normal to see all the females here a few days ago, but I have a lot of red birds and they love the dog food.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
Possums and raccoons like the dog food as well. I seem to have an entire colony of cardinals, one flicker, wrens, chickadees, finches and sparrows. A veritable buffet of birds.
• Peoria, Arizona
16 Dec 18
I would love to look out and see cardinals. We have had an abundance of mourning doves here, they may be a little dull with color but I adore them haha especially when we have little treats to give them.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
@DesirousDreamer A murder of crows, yep. They are thieves. I do see them some. There is a field down the way filled with volunteer cedar trees. Once I came past and it looked as if there was a crow on the top of each. Grackles seem to stake out the Wal Mart parking lots. They strut around importantly and make all kinds of noise and peck at cars and look for discarded food.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
16 Dec 18
@DesirousDreamer we have an over abundance of crows here.
• Peoria, Arizona
16 Dec 18
@shaggin There are murders everywhere! We have the knockoff crows, grackles, they are mean and not as wise.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
16 Dec 18
I never feed the birds but my property always has a lot. I saw a gorgeous cardinal out there Friday.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
I haven't fed them much before this year. It is easier to remember when I am home every day.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Dec 18
They know where the party is . It must be so neat to see all that red in your yard . . . we don't get cardinals like that.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
I love the variety. Also the challenges. The male cardinals get into it with the flicker. He will just come sit in the feeder and eat.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Dec 18
@GardenGerty Our neighbor told us a flicker lives in our big ash tree - I've never seen it! I think we should get some feeders . . . maybe more varieties of birds will come.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Dec 18
Perhaps they are gathering to elect a pope.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
In my very own front yard. I have not seen any smoke signals, though.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129481)
• Israel
16 Dec 18
@GardenGerty I can see him or her in the picture. He or she is very pretty.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
It is a male cardinal. The females are brown with just a little red under their wings and such. They are pretty and I do like looking out on their antics.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129481)
• Israel
17 Dec 18
@GardenGerty He is very handsome.
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Dec 18
It looks like a foggy day in Mudville to me. Hope you see more cardinals.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
Sorry it is so blurry.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41997)
• United States
16 Dec 18
Those are pretty to see. I am surprised they haven’t migrated or whatever they do during colder weather!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
Cardinals and blue jays stay even in the winter. They like to shelter in evergreen trees. In fact we may be the destination for their migration.
@Shavkat (137213)
• Philippines
16 Dec 18
I think they wanted to find a new home since it is a hibernation period.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
Cardinals actually stay around all year. They like evergreen trees and they eat the juniper berries. Of course what I feed them is a real treat.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (137213)
• Philippines
18 Dec 18
@GardenGerty I do think that you are so connected to being kind to the other living things in this world It balances our life in appreciating them.
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
16 Dec 18
I am sure that birds pass the word, I have more and more birds coming to my feeders.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
That is what I am seeing as well. Now the days when the wind was so high they did not come Many of my feeding stations blew down as well.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
17 Dec 18
@GardenGerty There are days that I do not see them, I suppose they are busy padding their nests.
@wolfgirl569 (95225)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Dec 18
They are hard to get a good picture of.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
They are really fast and not very trusting.
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 18
Hopefully they'll get used to you and you'll be able to get a better photo.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
I would think as winter goes by they will be less jumpy. I sure hope so.
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
16 Dec 18
Aw the lovely cardinals I so love them Heather.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
The entire variety of visitors is really a blessing.
1 person likes this
@Paradon (2063)
• Pattaya, Thailand
16 Dec 18
It is happy that the birds know you are sending them food!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
It is. It is also a good way to get me to look up and rest my eyes regularly. I notice I have less eye strain.
1 person likes this
@Paradon (2063)
• Pattaya, Thailand
17 Dec 18
@GardenGerty That is good news!
@allknowing (130064)
• India
17 Dec 18
Taking bird pictures is not easy You have to hide from them
@sallypup (57909)
• Centralia, Washington
16 Dec 18
I wish my area had cardinals.
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
16 Dec 18
What kind of birds are common where you are?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157553)
• United States
17 Dec 18
@sallypup You lost me at stilts, I assume they are wader birds. "Going on a snipe hunt" was always a teenage prank, but I knew they really existed somewhere.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57909)
• Centralia, Washington
16 Dec 18
@GardenGerty Good question. Thanks. The county put in a waterway below my property so now there are more birds like Mallard ducks, scads of Canada geese, killdeer, even snipes and stilts- Audubon birder folks clued me in there. I also live in sagebrush country so that means magpies and the Western meadowlark, lots of mourning doves and of course sparrows, crows or ravens- I can't figure the difference there. Once in a blue moon, an egret or a heron. Some hawk types, too.
1 person likes this