07.31.09
Student of Nature - the Cardinal Family of 2009
During our drought the last three to four years before 09, especially toward the end of it, I went for months without seeing a Cardinal in my back yard. Once we finally began to get rain on a regular basis, they returned. This year, they have outdone themselves. I can see sometimes up to ten or so around one feeder. I have especially enjoyed one family. The mom and dad have successfully taught the little ones how to get to the feeder but they still like to be fed. Yesterday, some of the babies would join mom or dad at the feeder & expect to be fed even though the seed was just under their beaks. One time I saw two babies, one feeding the other. It is so neat to see them grow and learn. They have already experienced fights between other birds (finches), some sibling rivalry, safety issues like move out of the woodpeckers way and treat the humans with curiosity from afar, not too close! They have learned that you don’t mess with mom or dad as well. And they are surviving and growing. They stick together so far as if they have a sense of kinship or family. We humans could learn a lot from them. What if…. we helped each other every time something was needed, even doted on others sometimes, learn from our fights and disagreements, be curious but careful around others, remember family is family and wow, the big one, respect mom and dad! Birds and nature in general can teach us so much, and it is a pleasure to be the student.
