I no longer have the big and varied feeders that I once did at The Sabine Farm, but I do have a small feeder on the window here at the Steam Pipe Trunk Distribution Venue.
As result I don’t have the variety of birds, but I do have a spiffy pair of Cardinals! Some shots.
First, Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal are inseparable.
Individually. First, the Missus.
Hunkered down in modified puff-ball mode and not alarmed about anything. That’s a good sign. They are comfortable here, which has me hoping they will nest near by.
“Ray” at the feeder. All male Cardinals at the feeder are “Ray”.
Please help?
The Missus has taken to looking into my quarters, especially when it is Ray’s turn.
There are two sides of the feeder, with different types of feed, but they prefer the right side that has the actually seeds in the shell and the safflower.
It can’t be all Church all the time here, can it? And since my kitchen exploits are pretty much on hold for a while, well….
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Well, it is time for cardinals to meet…
A female cardinal!? Wait, wasn’t there some ruckus a couple months back when some loon suggested that women could be made cardinals?
Lovely birds you’ve got there, Fr. Z! And there *are* female cardinals – you should be happy that it isn’t Mrs *Claudia* Cardinale who looks at you through the window ;-)
It is a pleasure to see marital fidelity somewhere!
Beautiful, Father! Thanks for posting these.
Off topic, but: oh, Lord, we will miss him so!
Adorable!!
We have Mr and Mrs Yellowhammer in our garden this year.
Why is the female cardinal not wearing Red? The lighter clothing makes me think she might have been elected Pope? Please do not tell me that the church finally selected a female pope and that she’s a bird!
Aw, sweet birds.
Do you not have kitchen facilities, Father? I do miss your inspirational culinary photos. I did get down my Julia Child cookbook a few times and try some recipes, but the reality of a big family made me go back to simpler, but still wholesome meals. I did learn a lot from her and I want to learn more someday. Tonight it’s tomato soup (canned last summer when the vegetables were fresh) and biscuits for the church soup supper (before Stations.)
Lovely pics, thank you!
The young lady cardinals are called Scarlet and the old birds are called Ruby. It’s a generation thing.
Liz: I think Fr. Z is fasting :-)
Giuseppe,
That is in fact a nun, wearing a greyish pantsuit. of course, she wants to be a cardinal, and elected and be elected pope. But for now, she only claims the title; for the rest she’s simply… on the bus.
Nice to see the cardinal couple settling in to the feeder near your window Fr. Z.
Yes Father, the fidelity of cardinals (at least of the feathered kind…) is noted here also (a little further south of you). You never see one without the other. On occasion a ‘junior’ male may be seen also. You can tell by the lack of, or small, tuft – and the fact that Mom feeds him!
Great pictures, Father! I so enjoy the results of your interest in our feathered friends!
Hmmm… Cardinal Ray? I know of a Cardinal Ray(mond) something-or-other… can this be a sign? :O
VexillaRegis, what was I thinking? Of course!
You need lots more than this before you can have a conclave.
I am fortunate to see Hummingbirds pretty much almost all year unless it be pouring rain or freezing cold. My sweet canary sings so beautiful when I have him outside. Early spring brings the songs of the birds both day and night. Already, they are singing lots and it makes me happy.
“Even the birds sing your praises, oh Lord.”
You are fortunate to have such beautiful little ones live so close to you, Fr. Z. Enjoy them to the fullest.
Phil_NL -she cannot be a nun on the bus. She’s sitting on a branch and didn’t break it.
They are lovely. I enjoy them and all the comments!
By the way, Father, what became of the Sabine Farm? Is your relocation from there temporary or permanent?
Hello Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal! Beautiful sight. The photos are great, I wonder what Mrs. Cardinal is thinking as she peers in your window.
Maybe, ‘psst..Fr. Z., is Spring coming soon?’ or ‘pssst, what does the prayer really say?’ or ‘What do you mean my Mr. has to go to Rome, for a what? A conclave? Oh yeah, suuuure.’
Anyway, it is a lovely sight to see the birdz again at your place.
or psst,
That last bit is an accident, sorry!
Based on my observations with the Feeder Feed, I like the Missus better, she waits until Ray has had his portion and then she comes and fills up her tank. Will be exciting if she has baby chicks! Good pictures, so close.
Just beautiful! One of God’s special creations. When things begin to get me down, I just observe nature and everything Our Lord created and it lifts my spirit. It’s a foretaste of the Kingdom and how wonderful it will be!
Beautiful birds…wish we had more of them. Lots of finches around here, along with hummingbirds and the occasional woodpecker.
May I offer that a group of cardinals is not a “flock” but rather a “conclave?”
Also, I once had a Vatican stamp with an American cardinal (bird) on it. It was however described as “Red Virginia Grosbeak.”
Huh!
Well! I can’t help noticing how regally and pompously the male cardinal is attired–straight out of the Middle Ages! Then look at the drab leftovers the female has to accept–like crumbs from the patriarchy’s table! Typical!!
Oh, how long will this oppression go on? All part of the old boys network that always runs things.
(How these lovely pictures might have been commented on at the National Schismatic Reporter.)
Beautiful birds! Out here in the Northwest, all our birds are brown, black, or blue. I remember a visit to the Midwest where I saw a cardinal in a tree. My first thought was that someone’s parrot had escaped. Fireflies, black-colored squirrels, and (thankfully) mind-numbing humidity are other things we don’t have out here.