well, maybe next year

[alocispepraluger102]

well, maybe next year

[A Lark Ascending]

What a lovely looking bird!

[papsrus]

Wonderful pictures.

Why won't he be there next year?

[alocispepraluger102]

Wonderful pictures.

Why won't he be there next year?

thank you.

cardinals live only about a year.

only the males are brightly colored.

this guy perched seemly motionless for at least 15 minutes, until i moved on.

Edited December 13, 2010 by alocispepraluger102

[papsrus]

Wonderful pictures.

Why won't he be there next year?

thank you.

cardinals live only about a year.

only the males are brightly colored.

this guy perched seemly motionless for at least 15 minutes, until i moved on.

I thought that might be the case and went nosing around but found no definitive answer. Several sites agreed with the one-year lifespan, although others offered varying ranges, including this rather wide one:

LINK

On average, northern cardinals live for 3 years in the wild although several individuals have had life spans of 13 to 15 years. The longevity record for a captive northern cardinal is 28 ½ years!

They apparently mate pretty much constantly, so they've got that going for them.

In any case, nice photos and lovely thoughts. Thanks.

[alocispepraluger102]

Wonderful pictures.

Why won't he be there next year?

thank you.

cardinals live only about a year.

only the males are brightly colored.

this guy perched seemly motionless for at least 15 minutes, until i moved on.

I thought that might be the case and went nosing around but found no definitive answer. Several sites agreed with the one-year lifespan, although others offered varying ranges, including this rather wide one:

LINK

On average, northern cardinals live for 3 years in the wild although several individuals have had life spans of 13 to 15 years. The longevity record for a captive northern cardinal is 28 ½ years!

They apparently mate pretty much constantly, so they've got that going for them.

In any case, nice photos and lovely thoughts. Thanks.

thank you---the prospect of seeing this guy again next year is indeed a pleasant one.

ohio birds

Edited December 13, 2010 by alocispepraluger102

[rostasi]

Are they really that rare in your area?

That seems so strange because around this house,

Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal come around here many times a day -

practically every day for the past 15 years.

Often, the parents move on after the young ones grow up,

but there have been times when the same couple stays for a few years at a time.

Bluejays, woodpeckers (one favorite: a downy woodpecker I call "Munchin'"

because of his appetite - full name: "Munchin' Downy Jr."),

wrens, owls, chickadees, titmice, mourning doves, and more,

all visit here too, nearly every day.

[alocispepraluger102]

Are they really that rare in your area?

That seems so strange because around this house,

Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal come around here many times a day -

practically every day for the past 15 years.

Often, the parents move on after the young ones grow up,

but there have been times when the same couple stays for a few years at a time.

Bluejays, woodpeckers (one favorite: a downy woodpecker I call "Munchin'"

because of his appetite - full name: "Munchin' Downy Jr."),

wrens, owls, chickadees, titmice, mourning doves, and more,

all visit here too, nearly every day.

i see one every couple of weeks.

they are fairly common here, but the sight of one posing in the drab winter woods is always striking.

the cardinal is the state bird of 7 or 8 states.

how fortunate you are. "mr. and mrs. cardinal," sweet.

[papsrus]

I much prefer the cardinal and its singsong to the more aggressive and loud blue jay, which must have one of the worst caws of any bird.

[Chuck Nessa]

They are dandy when stir fried with the right herbs.

[Jazzmoose]

They apparently mate pretty much constantly, so they've got that going for them.

That explains the short life span...