The Cardinal Father

by Sandra Santee
(Cottonwood Shores, TX. 78657)

I live in the hill country of Texas,where the winters are mild and the springs are long. It is a great place to study birds.

I first became interested in cardinals when some one told me that they mate for life.

So, I put up a feeder in my large oak tree,with the foods they like ,it took some time before I started seeing them at my feeder and at first my cats were the only ones really interested, I myself didn't think they were all that wonderful.

Then one day I found a little red cardinal, dead, at the bottom of my tree. I felt a little sad, wrapped him in paper and went to bury him. When I heard this tweeting sound all round my head, what is going on.

I looked up and saw the female fussing at me. She was really mad. I think she thought I killed her mate. I felt so bad, all the while I was burying him she kept fussing at me.

When it was done, I looked up at her and it was as if she knew. She started sing this sad song, would brake you heart.

It was not long when this really good looking red Cardinal, flew up to a branch next to her, you could tell he thought he was the best catch around, with his chest all puffed out.

Well, she got so excited and chattered and chattered and wiggled, it was like she was telling him a story and he kept looking at me like it was all my fault.

His heart went out to her and they flew off together.

That is just the beginning of my story for that couple has raised babies for two years now in my yard and their babies have raised their own young and that, is another story.

I love my Cardinals.