Enjoying “red” on a day with Snow Squalls. In addition to this Cardinal, we have had regular visits from Pileated and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers … and even a Redpoll. If you maximize the image you should be able to see the streaks of snow coming down.
Two years ago, my house was pretty much the northern range limit for Cardinals, but I now know some “reds” are being seen up the shore as far as the Sucker River (12 miles distant).
Mourning Doves … they stay the winter each year … normally not found in the Boreal Forest during the “white” time of the year. They appear to like my feeders.
The visitors to your feeders are beautiful. I love seeing the chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers at my feeders, but I’d welcome some additional colorful visitors. Can you share with us what kind of feed you use to attract these beautiful birds? I am in Hermantown, about 10 miles up from the lake, but in a very wooded area. Would this affect my ability to attract different varieties of birds?
Jean et al … it is a matter of habitat. I live across the road from Amity Creek which means I am on the edge of a mature Boreal forest. The older trees attract all my woodpeckers. The cardinals seem to like the edge of the forest as it meet deciduous trees. I was surpised to have year round mourning doves. Eventually most winters I have 10 to 14 doves. Surprisingly they love sheltering in thick cesar trees, because I think of them as open habitat birds.
With respect to feeders, I have a platform feeder which I keep filled with black oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn (attracts doves and blue jays). I have two hanging feeders which are filled with black oil sunflower seeds, and one tube feeder filler with nyjer seeds (finches love the stuff). Finally I have suet cake feeder, and sometime within the next few days I will put up a metal cage feeder which will have real meat suet. I was waiting till around December 1st before putting out the meat suet … attracts black bears like honey.
Thank you for the info, Richard. I don’t have the nyjer seeds but I have had some finches at times. I’ll add some cracked corn and continue with the black oil sunflower seeds and suet baskets. I enjoyed seeing the pine grosbeaks and flock of cedar waxwings that were feasting at my crabapple tree last week. Your photos are a treat to see and I’m so glad you are back out in the woods and in your happy place after your successful surgery.
I’m waiting for cardinals to make it to the shore in TH. I miss them.
Joan … each year I get reports of cardinals a but further up the shore towards Two Harbors. I sincerely think cardinals will arrive within the next few years.
Beuatiful photos, makes me happy to live in South Texas.