Evening star., 1946-02-04
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceueH.
SILVER SPRING. Md.

Dear Sir:
I'm reply to your correspondents in
quiry regarding the song of the redbird,
I can say, Yes, the cardinals are sing
ing!'
This morning as I was walking with
my dog, male cardinal in tree nearby
was really singing, and at a short dis
tance another answered, though I
couldn't see the second one
The first sounded as II he were call
ing strong, decided Hear! Hear! Hearv
and the second seemed to answer with
a two-syllable Right here
1T was quite thrill to hear them.
We have fed and watered the birds for
years, summer and winter, and love to
watch them on our window ledge feeder.
Sincerely, c. F. c."
Every one knows and admires the male
cardinal, but not so many are acquainted
with his fair lady.
We have found that many persons
think they are seeing totally new
species, when they see her for the first
time, she is so different from the male.
Clad modestly but beautifully in feath-
ers of soft roses, green's and browns,
with some gray mixed in, and with
coral beak, but no topknot, she suggests
an old-fashioned Paisley shawl.
Now and then one will arrive in
monotone of feathers, more greenish
than anything else
Liking for this modest bird is growth,
one may feel. 1t does not spring full
grown from the heart, as the fondness
k1a Aoc c1, 10
1t will be necessary to watch the fe-
male Of the species, to see her in action,
and especially to get just the right light
ON her, to know her in all her real
splendor.
Then she will be seen to be one Of
our best birds, as she must be, with the
mate she has
Between them they furnish both the
winter and summer scene with some of
its very best bird pictures.
What is more thrilling, to use the
word Of our correspondent, than to see
a redbird low down in shrub, all of
cold morning, suddenly send forth that
loud clear CALL
Most listeners hear his favorite word
as Cheer" and that tells something of
the effect he has at any time of year,
with that bold clear utterance, which
seems to come just little closer to Say
ing words" than most bird songs.
1t is necessary to be close to the
mother cardinal to see her properly, as
she is not f1aShy, in any sense, and makes
no display.
So 1t is essential to see her at feed
ing station by window, or at least in
a shrub of some sort.
Rhododendrons are favorites of the
redbird, as of most wintering species.
They often seek refuge in them on bitter
days.
Probably the best view we ever got
of female cardinal was one extremely
cold day several winters ago.
This specimen was a beauty, with
softest colorings, so mixed that it would
have been difficult to describe her except
to say she was beautiful.
Surely that would be enough.
There was bead of ice on top of her
head. and the light caught this as she
sat huddled up among the rhody leaves,
her feathers puffed out to keep her
warm
This diadem of ice fitted her exqui.
sitely.
It seemed thereafter as if all mother
cardinals ought to wear beads on their
heads.
When she flew away, the ice was still
there, but it made no difference, for she
was well fed, and there was plenty of
food on hand for her and many others.
Z Spring is not far off when the car
dinals begin to "cheer" each other.
Soon the male will begin to show un-
usual solicitude for his mate, even to
the extent of feeding her, when ordi-
narily he chases her away from food
until he has eaten.
This, too, is best watched close at
hand, since the seed is often missed If
the rite of spring is performed at dis
tsllce.