Audubon Asks: Did You Know?

DId you know that house-hunting can be difficult, even for birds? Male and female cardinals, for example, will chatter back and forth as they visit and assess numerous, possible nesting sites. And like first-time parents anxious to assemble a crib, they are prepped and ready, doing all this searching while holding nesting material in their beaks.

Once the female makes the final selection, the male may bring more nest material, but it is the female who does most of the building. She crushes twigs with her beak to make them pliable, then bends the twigs around her body and pushes them into a cup shape with her feet. The nest typically takes about six days to build.

According to the American Bird Conservancy, during courtship, the male feeds the female, and they sing duets. Once on the nest, it is believed that her chirps tell her mate when to bring food, and also warn him to stay away when a predator is near so his bright red feathers do not draw attention to the nest. Male cardinals are aggressive and will defend their territory during the breeding season. Sometimes he mistakes his own reflection in car mirrors and windows as an intruder and will doggedly and repeatedly attack his reflection for hours.

Northern Cardinals are often monogamous, and may remain together for years. They often feed together, preferring seeds that their sizable beaks can easily crack open. They also eat berries and insects if available.

While common in the eastern and central United States, cardinals are still vulnerable to poisoning from pesticides and predation by cats. Keeping cats inside not only keeps them – and the birds – safer, it also keeps homeowners in compliance with Landings regulations, which do not allow cats to roam free off their property. For a bird-friendly environment, add seed-bearing native plants to your garden, and keep cats indoors. For more information on native plants, click on Nature Notices at skidawayaudubon.org. Visit the website to learn about upcoming Skidaway Audubon events, volunteer opportunities, and how to donate.