Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-03-29
WRITES ABOUT
THE CARDINALS
Alderman Nj. A. Lange Tells About
The Beautiful Cardinal Gros-
beckor Red Bird.
FOUND NEST
NEAR ICE CAVE
Built of Twigs, Lined With Dry
Grass And Contained
Four Eggs.

Its name Cardinals (Latin Red)
is devised from the color of the
Cardinals hat. He is from 81 to
9 inches in length, with a stout con-
ical red bill, a long feathered crest,
forehead, upper chin and throat
black. His food consists of insects
(among which is the potato bettle)
seeds and berries.
His song is a melodius, rooling
varied whistle, loud and powerful as
well as soothing and tender.
1t was a favorite cage bird until
laws were passed prohibiting it's
capture. Many were also killed to
adorn hats. An instance of one that
lived for twenty-one years in con-
finement is reported.
Our stringent bird laws have ma
terially increased its number and it's
range is being extended.
There were no cardinals in the
northern part of this state transient
or otherwise when / was a boy. They
usually live in pairs or families and
are particular in selecting a home.
In cold weather they become some-
what gregarivous. | saw twenty-one
of these song artists on the McCue
Brothers farm in Bluffton one day
during the past winter and the
flashing of their red coats on the
snow covered landscape made a
beautiful picture.
1t was my pleasure to find one of
these birds nest near the famous
Ice Cave near Decorah. 1t was
built of small twigs and lined with
dry grass and contained four eggs,
three of which were blush green
with reddish brown splashes, the
other a blush white with brown or
chocolate spots. Birds are much like
people in many respects. They have
a call note, scolding note, one of
defiance, fear, warning, distress cries
and love calls, and if you will go
some morning where the cardinal is
located you will hear a hushed or
whispering ten, ten, ten, wait, wait,
wait, which will be answered by his
less gaudily colored mate. They
love each other i'm their bird like
way and are devoted to their Off
spring. Their call note is a chip.
Both sexes sing and none of our
song birds can equal them. They are
thorough birds in every respect,
neither harsh, discordant or coarse in
song or habits. They usually raise
two broods each summer.
Every person should be able to
identify at least forty of our COM
mon birds, wild flowers and shrubs.
He who studies them soon becomes
interested in Gods great out door
life, creates an appreciation for the
beautiful and love for the helpless,
in addition to equipping himself for
better living.
Nowhere in this state has the hand
of time painted more artistic pictures
than along the Upper Iowa river and
the study of them and their life is
of much value and pleasure.
If it were not for our insectiveous
birds trees would be denuded of their
vegetation and plants could not grow.
In Massachusetts a few years ago
it was estimated that the insect eat
ing birds of that state consumed
twenty-one thousand bushels of in
sects daily during the nesting sea-
son, (about five months). Some
insects!
Parents take your children for an
outing occasionally. Note carefully
what you see and be able to talk
about it. 1t will afford a pleasant
time for all and be a good invest
ment for you.
NJ. ADELBERT LANCE.