In the final paragraph of my May 22nd post “Learning on my Terms” I teased about discovering a Cardinal’s nest in my barberry bush. For several years I have had a pair of Cardinals bopping around the backyard. Here are some photos of the female taken one Winter.
Since they were visiting more often lately, I offered a few peanuts on the sidewalk, then put a handful of sunflower seeds down. But that seed-dispensing generosity came to a rapid halt after I returned from walking to find a couple of mice contentedly nibbling on those seeds way too close to the door – a mouse in the house would freak me out!
This post is somewhat long; first will be a backstory, followed by the Diaries and pics.
I have had a lifelong affinity for domestic and wild birds.
Growing up and as an adult, parakeets and canaries were much-loved members of my family. And who doesn’t enjoy the cheery warble of a songbird, no matter the season? As much disdain as I have for Robins building their mud-packed nests in the crook of my porch coach light, then retaliating with huge splats on the front door and siding when I remove said nest, I love to hear a Robin’s cheery birdsong.
I fed and watered the backyard birds in all seasons for many years, usually just filling the feeders or birdbaths before dashing off to catch the bus for my job in Downtown Detroit. When I suddenly became “Yard Master” er … “Yard Mistress” in 1984 after my father’s abrupt departure, suddenly I was logging many outside hours, especially in Summer.
In 1985 I ripped out about 90% of my father’s landscaping efforts, most which had become grossly overgrown and created a more natural habitat, including a large butterfly garden. During this yard revitalization period, I had a backyard bird following of feathered friends who perched on the fence each morning while awaiting fresh seeds at the bird feeder and clean water as I hand-watered the garden before leaving for work.
During this time period, I befriended a female Cardinal and knew it wasn’t just my imagination that she would sit on the fence and sweetly tweet at me while I worked. I always whistled back at the songbirds and tried to keep up with them whistle for whistle, note for note.
Well Mrs. Cardinal filled my heart with joy and I treated her extra-special, i.e. I would place some peanuts on a partially hidden flat rock. It only took me a few times to point to her, then to the peanuts on the rock for her to see that treat. Her mate always waited in the tree or perched on the fence allowing her to partake in the peanuts first.
My mom, also a feathered-friend devotee, was just as delighted as me to see what we assumed to be a mated pair and she often watched them from her back bedroom window. In an issue of the magazine Birds and Blooms we learned that safflower seeds were a special treat enjoyed by Cardinals and, believe it or not, are one of very few foods squirrels do not like. So I bought a five-pound bag of safflower seeds to see if our Cardinals would like them.
And so began an evening ritual that lasted from Spring through Fall for several years … BUT, with Mrs. Cardinal only.
When I returned home from work every night, as I walked up the sidewalk leading to the door, Mrs. Cardinal acknowledged my arrival by flying down to the patio floor. I would step inside the house, put down my tote bag and emerge with a small Dixie cup of safflower seeds which I’d pour on the cement, then go into the house for dinner. You could set a clock to my arrival time and, obviously Mrs. Cardinal did not wear a watch, but there she was. Suffice it to say, we never disappointed one another. I stuck to that timetable on weekends and holidays if possible.
Sadly, that delightful routine was broken, likely after West Nile virus affected our area. My mom and I spent a long weekend in Toronto visiting my grandmother and when we returned home, I immediately went into the backyard to feed my feathered and furry friends and fill the four birdbaths. I was horrified to find about a dozen Blue Jay bodies in my backyard. As West Nile virus was ravaging Southeast Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) had directed residents to notify them of any dead birds, even one bird, unless the bird evidently met its fate, having been mauled by a predator. The DNR picked up the bird bodies the following day and contacted us to say that all the Jays had West Nile virus and we should immediately discontinue watering and feeding the birds until the following year ONLY if the virus had abated. Sadly, I washed out the birdbaths and stored them in the garage. I never saw Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal again and assumed they also perished from the West Nile virus, thankfully not in my yard, where I would see them.
But, surely, not ALL my Cardinals’ extended family perished – they could have descendants, right?
Thank you for reading the backstory and now I give you The Cardinal Diaries.
The Cardinal Diaries 2023.
Wednesday, May 10th – I returned home from walking and as I came up the walk, a female Cardinal zoomed into the barberry bushes. Since I wasn’t near, I hadn’t spooked her, so I wondered if there was a nest. Later that day, I went outside and a male Cardinal flitted by. Sure enough, a rather flimsy nest, with a few leaves making up the bottom portion, was resting inside the prickly barberry bush.
I wondered aloud if they were descendants of my original Cardinal pair and could I recreate the magic in 2023?
Friday, May 12th – I took a vacation day as I wanted to visit the Ford Estate Lilac garden and the Environmental Interpretive Center. Before I left, I checked on Mama-to-be, Mrs. Cardinal who was sitting on the nest. I spoke softly to her, though she looked at me intently – I hoped she wasn’t scared.
That evening when I got online, I checked the incubation period for Cardinal eggs and learned it was 11-13 days. I also learned incubation does not begin until all the eggs are laid.
Saturday, May 13th – I thought of the realtor tagline “location, location, location” as Mama and Papa Cardinal likely thought this was a great spot to build a nest and nurture their hatchlings until fledging. It was chilly and Mama could not have been comfortable, nor warm. Here she was giving me “the tail” … guess she showed me.
Sunday, May 14th – It was Mother’s Day and I momentarily mused about the “Legend of the Cardinal” wherein a deceased loved one comes to visit you in the form of a beautiful red (male) Cardinal. Well, Mama Cardinal, who was looking a bit frowsy from embedding herself deep into that nest was the next best thing to perpetuating that myth, as Papa was nowhere to be found.
Monday, May 15th – We began an uncharacteristic cold snap, the coldest May in 115 years. A few evenings there were frost advisories. My “morning gawk” at Mama Cardinal found her hunkered deep down …
… in that flimsy nest protecting those eggs. I gave her words of encouragement before heading off on my walk.
Wednesday, May 17th – I began to suspect that the in-shell peanuts left on the patio, intended for the Cardinals …
… likely were ending up in the tummy of this nursing Mama Squirrel. Who would deny this little Mama a few peanuts? So I compromised and put out extra peanuts on the patio and out front.
Thursday, May 18th – After studying the habits of the Cardinals and noting Mama rarely left the nest, I ordered some safflower seeds, mealworms and two small hanging feeders to place in nearby bushes. They were delivered the next day, so I stopped by and informed Mama she had a new food source.
Saturday, March 20th – Because I wanted to take photos of the happenings at the nest and feeders, I waited until the weekend to fill the feeders.
These feeders had powder-coated perches, so a “fly-by” to eat on the run was not necessary – the Cardinals could perch and fill up on treats. I hung them strategically inside the barberry bushes and a Mock Orange which is looking a bit bare.
I returned from my walk anxious to see if the food was gone and found ants glommed onto the mealworms. I grumbled bigtime and dumped them in the street, rinsed out the dish at the outside tap and pondered my next move.
Sunday, May 21st – I Googled “how to serve mealworms and avoid ants?” Well I was supposed to rehydrate the mealworms before serving them. Really? Admittedly I didn’t read the package info and thought mealworms came “ready-to-eat” … who knew? I filled a disposable cup with mealworms and sloshed warm water over them. Ugh – it looked like some instant noodle dish. The mealworms were buoyant little fellas. I stirred and swirled them around until they were moist and juicy, then spooned them into the feeder, topped off the safflower seeds and left on my walk.
I returned to find ants crawling on the mealworms, so I dumped them again and was done with mealworms. I got a small ceramic custard dish and filled it with water and placed it in that feeder.
I decided Mama Cardinal was overdue hatching those babies. By my calculations, those beaks should be upturned, waiting for grubs to be dropped into their mouths. I hopped onto Google where I learned that Mama Cardinals often sit on the hatchlings when they are newly hatched and most vulnerable. So was she sitting on the babies to keep them warm? What a revelation!
Monday, May 22nd – The HVAC tech was here doing a wellness check on the A/C. In shepherding the tech to the backyard, I decided to show her Mama Cardinal sitting on the nest. Alana peeked in, then whipped out her phone, scrolled through some pics and showed me HER Mama Cardinal which was leucistic (all white) with her mate hanging out by Alana’s sunflower seed feeder. Nothing like trading Cardinal stories like two doting, if not dotty, aunts. 🙂
Tuesday, May 23rd – Our cold spell lingered with near freezing temps. If those chicks had hatched, I hoped Mama wouldn’t smother them trying to keep them warm.
Wednesday, May 24th – Patience was a virtue: I saw Mama Cardinal zoom out of the nest, so I zoomed into the house for the camera. She saw me near the nest and returned pronto. For all my efforts, I only got a few halfway decent photos of Mama feeding her babies. She was so embedded in the barberry bush that zooming in too much made it blurry. I saw just how big those babies were, so I was convinced they had hatched longer ago than originally thought.
Memorial Day weekend from May 27th through 29th – The Saturday of the long holiday was “Female Bird Day” so I was busy checking out Mama Cardinal while I spent two days doing yardwork, I squeezed in some “me time” too, on tiptoes, to scope out the nest. I’m sure I could have been in the house earlier both days rather than beating a path over to the barberry bush. Mama and Papa were hovering about. Mama’s tail was bobbing as she fed bug bits to her little ones. Every so often Papa did the same, gaining entry into the barberry bush, then dropping down to a branch near the nest. I got one photo of him, albeit far away.
Memorial Day I didn’t work outside, but planted myself nearby to take some pics. It was difficult to tell how many chicks were in the nest.
Mama seemed to be the best hunter and gatherer of the two. She’s looking a bit frowsy here, having lost some of her feathers either scooting in and out of the prickly barberry bush, or slinking down in that nest, but on each expedition she returned with bugs; one was still wiggling. This picture below on the patio wrought iron railing was my favorite of the bunch.
The next day, I went for my morning gawk and walk and discovered the entire clan had flown the coop and not a moment too soon – the nest was literally in tatters. I’ve only gotten one photo of Mama since then …
… though they both watch me laying down peanuts and drop by for safflower seeds. I’ve not seen any of the youngsters. I’ve also got Chickadees interested in those safflower seeds, though I’ve yet to get a photo of one.
I’m disappointed I didn’t get better shots, but it was a fun learning experience. If the pair was undaunted by this wannabe paparazzo and return to nest again, hopefully I have better luck next time.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Hey there! Came across your post on the WordPress feed and couldn’t resist saying hello. I’m already hooked and eagerly anticipating more captivating posts. Can’t seem to find the follow button, haha! Guess I’ll have to bookmark your blog instead. But rest assured, I’ll be eagerly watching for your updates!
Thanks – TheDogGod
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Thank you Wayne – guess we both like critters don’t we – I’m going by the name of your blog. Thanks for your comment!
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It’s always fun to watch babies and sad when they “fly the coop.” I bet you had “empty nest” syndrome! 🙂
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I did have “empty nest syndrome! What was interesting to me was learning that she was sitting on the babies. I realized that when I finally got a look at the babies and could see how big they were … given the size of the nest, they were around a while. I Googled about Cardinals a lot. My neighbor Marge had a Mourning Dove lay eggs in a metal basket she had on her deck. They laid two eggs, but Mama Dove threw one out of the nest – Marge saw her take her beak and push it out of the basket, so suspected she knew the embryo had died. She watched them from her doorwall, taking pics and watching the parents show it how to fly – then they left. Yes, she was sad to see them go!
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Beautiful post, Linda! I love that close up of Mama with the bug in her mouth! What a devoted mother she was with getting her hatchlings through that cold snap. And what a good idea, keeping a diary of when and how it all played out. Maybe she will nest again soon, the Audubon website says cardinals can have 2-3 broods a year. I also loved the picture of the nursing squirrel, another devoted mother. (I never knew that birds caught West Nile virus, that must have been a very disturbing discovery for you.)
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Thank you Barbara – I am glad you liked it! That close-up of Mama with the wiggling but was my favorite too. I was constantly Googling to find out info about them so was pretty amazed to find out that she didn’t incubate the eggs until they all hatched, then would sit on the hatchlings. I had no idea they would do that – you’d think it would suffocate them, but we had the bad cold snap, so I guess she had no choice. I wonder if this was the first brood this year? I hope they return. I did read they don’t use the same nest again – it was flimsy and held together by three big leaves on the bottom and not much else. I researched about them, yet didn’t read the bag of mealworms to know to re-hydrate them. I am happy to have gotten pictures of the nursing squirrel who was competing for peanuts. Squirrels nurse their young for 9-10 weeks, so one day she will be bringing the babies to ground level. When I open the door every morning, Mama Squirrel is there, waiting for breakfast. 🙂 You are right about discovering the Blue Jay bodies scattered around the yard – my backyard is not that big so there they were, all in the same area. It was disturbing to see such beautiful birds dead.
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You are becoming a great naturalist Linda! I’m sure they will come back next year. They know a good thing!
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Thank you Wayne! I wish I had more pics of the babies, but because it was so cold and Mama was on the nest most times I went over to look, I was limited getting shots. I couldn’t back up to take pics or I’d back into the house. I didn’t feel right about using a ladder to get closer to the barberry bush. I didn’t want to scare her looming large. She was very diligent about finding grubs/bugs for the babies. I still don’t know many babies there were in the nest. It was a fun experience so I hope they return. I knew they have multiple broods a year and don’t re-use the nest. I’ll keep filling the feeder with safflower seeds to encourage them to stay plus I saw Chickadees there too. (Of course when I ran out to put out nuts and did not have the camera with me as I was not ready to go out and walk.)
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Those are pretty cool feeders, those blue ones. I like that. 🙂 Great photos as well. It is hard to find cardinal nest sometimes.
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I like them too Sandra – I got them from Amazon and they have vents in the bottom to keep the seeds dry, though I had to get rid of the old seeds as the rain mushed them up. I had been blowing the chaff off the seeds every morning and topping them off if necessary. I’m happy to see the Chickadees there eating. Glad you liked the photos too – wish I could have gotten some clearer baby pics.
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How diligent you were! Thanks for the tale.
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Glad you liked the tale Anne. Wish I could have gotten clearer baby pics, but the nest was so embedded in the bush, it made it difficult to take photos.
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What lovely stories. I’m so glad that birds have recovered in your area. I couldn’t convince a friend of mine to stop feeding the birds when West Nile was so active. It’s a hard thing to forgo your own pleasure for the sake of your feathered friends. I wish you all the best.
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Thank you Zazzy – glad you liked them. I originally was going to do just the diaries based on the notes I jotted down daily and and the pictures I took, but decided with so few baby pics and they were not clear, I’d include the backstory which was something I really enjoyed doing all those years ago. I was also happy that I could get a photo of Mama Squirrel who has been a fixture at the door for many weeks now. We had a bad bout of West Nile and the DNR had been doing a lot of stories and public service announcements about the birds and contacting them immediately. It was awful to see those Jays as my yard was not very big and to have them everywhere was upsetting. As to Avian Flu, I have not fed the birds in feeders at home in a while and now have these small feeders. I will take them down if we get another round of Avian Flu to prevent spreading the virus to other birds. I hope the Cardinals come back again, though they won’t use the same nest according to info I found. Thy probably thought I was a pain in the tail. 🙂
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You got some wonderful photos, Linda. Mama squirrel seems to be missing an ear. Too bad about the ants. Even trying mealworms was brave. I’ll stick with seed!
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Thank you Eilene! When I got this idea to photograph the Cardinals through fledging, I assumed I would have a better view, however, the nest was above eye level and deep, albeit flimsy. I didn’t want to climb on a stool to look inside. It didn’t seem right to worry her and/or thwart any nest building in the future. I thought Mama Squirrel was missing an ear too … I admit I never noticed it until I took the photos. She is always on the move: beg, eat some peanuts, bury the rest. The ants were horrible and my first time using mealworms. I thought I’d take them to the Park for those critters, but not if it causes an ant invasion there.
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Awwww, Linda, you have such a heart for feathery friends and take good care of them when you can! The pictures are wonderful.
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Thank you Esther! I wish I could have seen into he nest. It was flimsy, but deep and I didn’t want to climb up and scare Mama Cardinal. I hope they build again, though I am sure they considered me a pain in the tail!
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Just like you, I would’ve wanted to see inside the nest. Even though they look flimsy, I’m sure it does the job for what they need. Glad you didn’t climb up… no need to put yourself in danger of a fall. Don’t you wish you could use a silent drone?!
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The problem with the nest also was it was embedded in the prickly barberry bush and the bush also had some sticks in the way so no matter how I shot a picture of the nest, the stick was also there. I just marveled how well it held together considering it was just little twiggy pieces of branches and three leaves on the bottom. When the Robins build nests, it is quite a work of art – built in 24 hours with mud and grass. I have taken to stuffing the coach light elbow to thwart their nest building.
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Little twiggy branches can make amazing nests! Those little builders can do magic.
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I was amazed Esther … it seemed like it was held together by three leaves on the bottom, barberrry bush pieces on the sides.
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Oh this is the best line ever: “how to serve mealworms and avoid ants?” I admire your dedication and obviously it paid off, but I’m laughing here. You do wander down some unique tangents.
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Ha ha – I did a lot of Googling over that two week period Ally. When I came back from walking the first time to see ants feasting on those mealworms, I decided I was not messing with mealworms, then reluctantly gave it another go. The look on my face while rehydrating them – ugh. I’m glad I didn’t buy the live ones! It was fun watching the activity and I see the parents in the backyard, but have not seen any youngsters yet. Now the Chickadees are eating safflower seeds but they hide when they see the camera. Squirrels are easier to please and they pose nicely.
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Wonderful photography. Beautiful all photos.
I’m so glad that birds have recovered in your area. I couldn’t convince a friend of mine to stop feeding the birds.how to serve mealworms and avoid ants?”i admire.
love that close up of Mama with the bug in her mouth! What a devoted mother she was with getting her hatchlings through that cold snap.
Thank, Linda nice story.
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Glad you liked it Raj.
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I’m so glad I read this post! I’ve never seen our cardinal’s nest or how quickly their nest fills and empties. I always thought they preferred pine trees to nest in. Now I know. And I’m with Ally, chuckling at your comment on how to avoid ants. It’s nice to see that you chose to chuck the worms and let the Cardinals find their own. Your favorite photo is great. A delightful tale told so well 😍
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Thank you Shelley – glad you liked this post! It was fun watching this nesting sequence, but I wish I’d been able to see inside the nest. I was reluctant to climb on a ladder or step stool as I figured Mama would have angst over me getting too close and even on tiptoes, I could not see inside. I hope she comes back again – I Googled along the way and learned a lot about Cardinals, including that they don’t re-use the nest. OMG – the ants that were on the mealworms in the time I was on my walk. And I should have realized that the wet mealworms would have still attracted the ants. Now I have a bag of mealworms … sigh. I liked that photo as she really looked worn out and head feathers ruffled, yet a beakful of bugs for the babies. Made me smile.
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Your efforts made the cardinals stars in the blogosphere 😊🤩
Ew, yuck, another reason I won’t buy mealworms.
I chuckled at her head and ruffled feathers too – a mom of young babies can certainly look frazzled and relieved at the same time!
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Yes, Mama Cardinal had some real raggedy-looking moments – I think she was squashed down in that nest on those babies and that’s why. Now she is coming around looking for peanuts and I have found a place to put them where the squirrels won’t go. They all disappeared yesterday, but today when I returned from walking, they were still there. So I will have to train them better 🙂 I have added some shelled peanuts to the safflower seeds and as a result I have seen the Cardinals bopping around there as well as some Chickadees. As long as I don’t get mice, I’m happy – them spilling these safflower seeds sometimes makes me leery. I’d use sunflower seeds, but last time I got mice eating them. I should move it to the backyard, but they will be taking the trees and bushes out soon and I don’t want to keep moving the feeders or they will get confused. I forgot to ask you this last time – did you notice my nursing Mama Squirrel in the photos?
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I can only imagine how it must feel for a bird to do bird nesting things and raise a family. They do it so quickly too!
That’s fun you’re finding ways to feed them and not the squirrels and mice at the same time. We have a family of ground squirrels (13 striped gophers) that have a trench in the dry grass that they travel to/from their hole in the ground. They LOVE the sunflower seeds. The birds eventually find new sources of food if they are moved. Our birds seem to have found bugs to eat over the bird seed.
YES! I forgot to mention I noticed the Mama Squirrel too. How many babies do they have at one time?!!!
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I have noticed that once the Cardinals discovered those shelled peanuts, the male Cardinal especially is beating a path there. Two or three times I’ve come up the sidewalk and have seen the male flying away. That’s fine as I initially intended the Cardinals to eat the seeds (and the mealworms which didn’t work out) and that’s good that they can use bugs and grubs for their youngsters, but I think they have monopolized the feeder and crowded out the Chickadees. I like Chickadees too. I am going to look on Amazon and see if anyone asked if the feeders can be used in Winter – I’d use the one I am using for water for peanuts and other for seeds in the Winter as long as the squirrels can’t climb up there as I give them peanuts in the shell. As for the baby squirrels, I had to look and it says 2-4 and they have two litters of “kits” a year.
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I’m so impressed that you research to make sure you’re doing what’s best for the critters you want to be there. It’s truly heartwarming!🥰🤗
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Thank you Shelley. I do worry about those critters and birds. I figure the drought messed them up for clean water and the smoke for clean air. The Cardinals and Chickadees are now competing for those shelled peanuts … I am enjoying watching them and I think the peanuts are a bigger draw than the safflower seeds for both. I was a softie today and put more peanuts out since they were all gone when I returned from walking. I can’t tell if they are drinking from the dish or not as it might be evaporating from the heat. If those birds stick around, I might feed them through the Winter. I used to love doing that, but stopped due to the neighbor behind and their rats, but they are long gone as is their dog that they fed table scraps and didn’t clean up after it.
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That’s wonderful they are sticking around. Yes!! DO IT, feed them throughout the winter. We so enjoyed our feeder near the window. The mess in the spring was not fun, but the joy of seeing the birds made up for it. Until the scoundrel red squirrel made his appearance. Once the weather got nice though, he hasn’t reappeared. If you don’t mind the mess to clean up, I think you’d enjoy feeding them.
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I had to go grocery shopping this morning, so got some more of the shelled peanuts … I really am enjoying seeing the birds hanging around again. Bringing groceries into the house and walking up the sidewalk, the male Cardinal made a point of going down to the cement patio so I could see the peanuts (in the shell) I laid there earlier were gone (likely the squirrels). I don’t think the feeders are durable for Winter, though they are pretty thick plastic, so I will have to get a feeder. I can’t use a window feeder unfortunately.
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Aw, I love it that he greeted you when you came home! 🥰
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Yes, just like that female Cardinal so many years ago. This morning it was pouring raining … I didn’t go out until about 10:00 … and my backyard furry and feathered critics were being very judgy about my tardiness. They nearly knocked me over to get their treats. 😮
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LOL – they’re creatures of habit come rain, shine, snow, or storm. They might be good mail carriers?! 🤔🤣
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Since our last comments, I am done with the birds … for now anyway. It was great, putting those shelled peanuts in the small feeding dish tucked away in the tree. The Cardinals and Chickadees were enjoying it – lots of hubbub around the dish and the bush I had it hanging from. But of course, now that the seeds are gone, the squirrels are climbing up there. I cleared all the seeds from the lava rock and on the sidewalk (no easy feat in the lava rocks), so the squirrels no doubt smelled the peanuts. Went out this morning with the cup of peanuts which fills the feeder almost to the top and a squirrel was embedded in the bush waiting to chow down. I shooed him away, poured the peanuts, gave them some water, then left on my walk, to return to several squirrels in or on the bushes … said “enough – enjoy these because nobody gets anything anymore!” I was getting a few adult females and one adult male yesterday. I am mad. And now the weather has arrived.
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I was wondering if the squirrels would start to be bothersome. You’re wise to stop feeding them so they move on. It’d be nice if they pestered the neighbor with the loud dog! Maybe the dog barks at seeing squirrels 🙄
Dang…the weather is NOT nice by you this year!! UGH!
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Yes, they are and this morning I went outside … beautiful morning up til noon, but went outside and the male and female Cardinal were there waiting for peanuts (either kind). I didn’t see Chickadees at that time and felt badly because I thought that here I have started something, have their attention and must abandon it due to the squirrels (my fault for feeding the house squirrels though – I admit that). So I came back in the house, got a cupful of peanuts … returned home and squirrels in the bushes, maybe five of them. So I said “nope, now you get nothing … no whole peanuts in the shell either.” I’ll have to see what happens after the trees and burned bushes/Lilac tree are gone … if they don’t have anything to jump from. I just bought a 10-pound bag of shelled peanuts, so I can keep them or always use them for the squirrels at the Park in case I run out of peanuts in the shell. Yes, irritated – the dish will remain empty.
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You’re a squirrel whisperer – they found you fast and fell in love with the free meals!
My brother sent me a picture of the baby squirrel sitting by the baby bunny in his yard. He fed the squirrels and they multiplied! 🤔 Good thing you’re helping the squirrels move on from your yard. Maybe toss some peanuts in the yard by the loud neighbor…
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Good idea – lead them astray. 🙂 I feel badly for the birds who were in tune with their meal, now their hopes were dashed and they’re back to grubs. I did not feed anyone and believe me, I got questioning, if not mean stares from them!
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😉😊🤩😁
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This morning I did not succumb to them, but I was working in the yard and the entire time, the Cardinal was perched near me tweeting … I felt guilty. If I saw just them, I’d gladly fill the dish. I am mixed, but will not feed the squirrels and the squirrels were begging as well. I feel like a “meanie” now.
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Aw, they’ll find food. If it was the middle of the winter and they couldn’t find any food then you could feel like a meanie 🤔😉
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OK, I feel better with that excuse then Shelley. They were so quick to catch on but I really was angry at the squirrels as I was feeding them – it was not like I ignored them. I had to laugh this morning as I saw my neighbor has been putting shelled peanuts out on his porch. I saw him a couple of weeks ago – first time since the fire in December and he said “the squirrels eat what you give them, then sit in front of the living room window and look in at me, so I bought peanuts. Well I got sad looks yesterday and today for ignoring them as they lined up, sitting on haunches studying my every move to see when I would put out peanuts.
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That’s funny that the neighbor took over feeding them! See, I told you they’d find food elsewhere. 😂😉
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I saw he was doing it about a month ago and when I saw him outside, I mentioned it and he said “well they look in the window at me all day long if I don’t feed them.” He sits in the living room all day and watches TV.
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You gave the guy some new purpose in life!! 😉
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I was kind of laughing to myself when I took the garbage out this morning – multiple trips outside with 11 bags altogether (garbage man doesn’t get here til late afternoon, so I kept going out with more stuff) … so anyway, there was a pile of shelled peanuts on the porch. I wanted to tell the Cardinals and Chickadees to go over there. The squirrels have quit begging here … guess I know they loved me for my peanuts. 🙂 But they must be looking in the window at my neighbor and he feels guilty. 🙂 So I have something new to report on – all the safflower seeds dropping out of the dish onto the red lava rocks … I knew the squirrels didn’t want them and the birds would not peck them on the rocks … so we had all that rain and all that heat and yesterday I went outside and I have been giving them water in the “mealworm” dish. The safflowers have sprouted … at least 50-75 little safflowers growing under the birdfeeder in the lava rocks. No, not happy right now. 🙂 Today I threw the safflowers and mealworms away. I was going to save them for the Cardinals at the Park, but they are just too small and Cardinals may not see them. I could have saved myself some aggravation and money. **I just came back to edit this. I Googled Safflower Plants – they are pretty – hmm. But they are considered invasive. No words.
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11 bags of garbage 🤔
Dang, this weather is growing the wrong things! Safflower plants – let ’em grow and harvest to cook with as a substitute to saffron in the winter! Wait…that would be adding to the to-list. Yank them out! 🤣
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Yes, amazing isn’t it? Hope to get 11 more next time I do the big purge … other rooms need serious help! I took a closer look at those baby Safflower plants as I could see white on them. So I bent down as I thought “surely they are not blooming already!” I think some of the seeds attached themselves to the plant and grew that way. I always gt oddball things going on in the garden. But, if they mature, they turn into bright-yellow flowers, but they’re annuals so they won’t be back.
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WOW! That’s an impressive purge. You must be feeling lighter and happier!?!
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they’re just annuals that won’t return.
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All this heat from yesterday and today and more rain (tonight and most of tomorrow) will make them shoot up even higher. Sigh.
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Dang weather!
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We were supposed to have a stormy afternoon/evening … now we will have it on Saturday afternoon.
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I heard more fireworks overnight…………. 🙄
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SMH.
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😉
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I admire your enthusiasm. Anyone who will hydrate and spoon mealworms deserves a salute. What a great overall experience for someone who loves birds as you do.
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Thank you JP. I used to feed and water the birds for years until a new neighbor moved in with a dog and kept it outside 24/7/365 and fed it table scraps and didn’t clean up after it. Soon rats were in my backyard so a pest control service was hired to bait traps, so I had to discontinue putting out food and take away the birdbaths. That neighbor is long gone. I have been feeding the Cardinals and Chickadees since the family left and enjoying it again. The mealworms issue was a real debacle all the way around, especially with the ants – never again!
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I’ve never used mealworms but ants are always a battle in my efforts to feed the wild birds.
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Linda, I now have a big bag of mealworms – if I have any takers, I’ll be happy to give them the whole bag. Ants are always a pain at the hummingbird feeder too, along with wasps.
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I love cardinals, we have a pair in our backyard but I have never seen their nest. What an experience to follow along with that little family. We have our bird feeders always filled up except for the one the raccoon stole!
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I love cardinals too Susan and since I wrote that post I started feeding them the shelled peanuts … not only am I getting Cardinals, but also Chickadees. I removed the safflower seeds as they went into the lava rocks and sidewalk and I worried about mice eating the seeds. Squirrels don’t like safflower seeds, but it didn’t them long to be in tune with the dish of peanuts and they were embedding themselves in the bushes to climb up the bush to eat peanuts. I have to stop feeding the birds for now until I come up with a plan.
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