Yes, the last few weeks my obsessions have been focused on the crumbling of our great country in the hands of the so called president but in actuality, dictator, demagogue and egomaniac of the highest order and his flock of officers. I need a break, hopefully you do as well. On this day of the Women’s March, A Day Without Women showing our influence on the fabric of this country of ours I offer a diversion in the world of nature.
Years ago we visited The Museum of the Brazos http://www.brazosvalleymuseum.org/ A memorable venue if you have not been there. I am remembering this after reading an article and hearing a podcast focussed on the Northern Male Cardinal, the bird of reknown for it’s vivid red color and fetching behavioral patterns. It was at the Brazos that we first witnessed this behavior at length and have now witnessed many times since.
I offer a generalized quote from the article;
“The male Northern Cardinal is perhaps responsible for getting more people to open up a field guide than any other bird. They’re a perfect combination of familiarity, conspicuousness, and style: a shade of red you can’t take your eyes off. Even the brown females sport a sharp crest and warm red accents. Cardinals don’t migrate and they don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they’re still breathtaking in winter’s snowy backyards. In summer, their sweet whistles are one of the first sounds of the morning.”
Surely most of you are so familiar with the species that they are not the novelty to spot as I once believed they were before traveling the countryside. The discussion focussed at length on one of the bird’s behavioral patterns that I first remember watching in the Brazos museum: a constant bumping into window. The Cardinal would bash his head against a window, mirror or other shiny reflective surface for hours at a time and days at a time. It is the response to the mating season, of course, the bird is convinced that his reflection is in competition for his charms. Hopefully, mother nature can override any concussion the bird may suffer in his quest to find a mate. What a head ache indeed.
The glorious Cardinal found in the wild
I hope to be writing more posts this week and thank you for all of your feedback. I am keeping this short and hopefully sweet as I promise in message in a Minute and I hope your day is filled with sunshine, smiles, bird song and peace.
Ann Carol
