![]() I didn't even take the time to run to the other window to check that feeder to see if there were any more. Once, there were six cardinals on the hopper feeder's baffle, and one on the roof of the feeder, and one at the feeder itself. And another email: Shame on me for not reporting to you that I saw 15 cardinals at one time out my kitchen window on either Tuesday or Wednesday during the snowfall. This past month, it's just been a "cardinal convention," one after another at the feeder. ![]() March 18, 2017: I don't know where all these cardinals are coming from in the area, but this winter has brought the most I've ever seen. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder. The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. ![]() This is the usual time period when they attack reflections, be they from a window, shiny hubcap or side-view mirror. By now, we understand that during the breeding season, the male will fiercely protect its food source and nest, as well as its mate, from another male cardinal. During non-breeding season, things are different. First, have you noticed that usually only one chickadee is perched at a feeder at one time, but has no problem with being followed immediately by another? Meanwhile, at the same feeder, only a bonded pair of cardinals will share a feeder when bonding is at its strongest, and it is not rare to see a female perched nearby and a bonded male bringing it seeds or insect grub. And survival during mating and breeding season is probably the most obvious to us, along with at feeders. The strongest obvious instinct governs survival. ![]() And these inherited laws, among some species, do allow them to go their way from time to time and to choose what is most beneficial. They are such a treat to watch, and our guests enjoy sitting on the sunporch to observe them.Ī: While we have learned that birds are governed by instincts, they are far more complex than we understand. They seem to prefer early morning or dusk, will also come at any time of day. Do they allow offspring to stay with them and, if so, how long? They don't seem to mind our large mastiff roaming around either. We have had two pairs for several years now, but never this many and all at once. They didn't have a preference for the feeders, or the ground, and would eat black oil sunflower seed together at either location. 7 and 8, in addition to our regular birds, squirrels and chipmunks, my husband and I observed four pairs of cardinals feeding all together and all at once in our backyard. ![]()
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