Birds!!!

Our whole goal this last summer was to attract one of the cardinal families that live further up the block. T0 have them come and chill on our nice clean patio. AFter hanging some feeders and nests, and setting up a air pump and line to run to the bird bath to keep it from freezing over the winter months. Finally, a pair of Northern Cardinals have arrived. The darkest red ones are the males, the females only have a tinge of red in their hair. The cardinals are interesting because both of the parents spend equal time making nests, and gathering food for the up comming babies. Cardinals have such a wide gape and strong beak they are able to consume a broad range of fruits ad seed. Unlike other species of songbirds, boyh male and female cardinals sing. The female has a softer song. Males often feed the female during courtship and while she incubayes. Femailes build the nest dense shrub, both attending to the young. Next on the list are the Finches. There are a wide variety of finches, but apparently the ones we have are the common House Finches. THe adult males have a salmon or coral red face, breast and rump. Streaked flanks and undertail. The females are dull grayish brow. They have a either a rounded crown or flat. Finally, there is the dark eyed Junco. THese birds do not ever leave for winter time, most Juncos The males have a dark gray above white white belly and extensive white in the tail. There are many types of Junco, from the House, the Summer and Scarlet to name a few... Thes guys are so small that they must eat all day long durring the winter months to keep themselves warm at night. But that doesnt mean they are the first birds up in the morning, they certainly have their competition. The morning doves, the cardinals and even sparrows, especially in the summer months can be heard at 3 am chirping, looking for a friend. div class="separator" style="clear: both;">