C is for Cardinals and Chickadees {Blogging Through the Alphabet}
Two of the most common backyard bird visitors are Cardinals and Chickadees. They also happen to be two of my favorite birds. They are enjoyable to watch at the bird feeders.
Image by skeeze on Pixabay
The male Cardinal is a bright red. During winter it's an orange red; during mating season they seem to turn a richer, deeper crimson.
Image by skeeze on Pixabay
The female is pale brown over all, with red tinges in the wings, tail, and crest.
I have observed that Cardinals seem to prefer sunflower seeds over any other kind of seed. They eat mainly seeds and fruit, but also eat insects. They feed their nestlings mostly insects.
They lay 2-5 eggs; incubation period is 11-13 days. They will fledge within 7-13 days.
You can read more about Northern Cardinals on All About Birds.
Albert is a fun story. Albert is reclusive. Every day he checks the temperature by putting his hands out the window. One day, a Cardinal drops a twig in his hand. Soon the Cardinal pair build a nest in his outstretched hand. This gives Albert a front row seat to observe the nesting, hatching, and raising of a Cardinal family. It's really a sweet story.
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Chickadees eat insects and seeds. They especially like sunflower seeds, peanut chips, and suet in your feeders. (Make sure the peanuts stay dry, so they don't get moldy).
Carolina Chickadees lay 3-10 eggs; incubation is 12-15 days; and fledge in 16-19 days.
Make a Chickadee nesting box.
Make a felt Chickadee ornament.
I know spring is coming, but you may still be interested in making this peanut butter suet to attract and feed birds.
I hope you'll flit back in next week, for the letter D.
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My son loves to watch the cardinals that have been coming to his bird feeder! Such beautiful birds. I had never heard of Albert, I will be looking into it.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely birds. Cardinals are visitors to our area and we enjoy seeing them. Last summer they built their nest in our rose bush. It prevented my clipping the bush but we sure did enjoy watching them. When we visit my family in NM, we love watching the chickadees. They are so cute and spunky.
ReplyDeleteThose two of the most frequent visitors to our feeders as well!! This year we had 12 cardinals at our feeder/tree--it was amazing!! The black-capped chickadee is our state bird.
ReplyDelete