New Cardinals

18 August

Northern Cardinals are one the species of birds that can have more than one go each summer at raising young. Twice is quite common and if the food supply and weather are favorable then three are possible - though a third nest is more often trying to replace a failed second nest than an urge to enlarge the family yet again. Pretty wearying for the adults.

Coming from at least a second clutch a pair of new Cardinals were released over the weekend and posed, shouting loudly, to have their portraits taken. An adult responded to their calls and soon came and rounded them up.

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Yesterday, I was reading one of the UK Sunday newspapers (“Observer”) when I came across this stunning picture of a male Cardinal. It is from a book to published later this year under the title “Aviary: the Bird in Contemporary Photography”. The photo was taken in a studio in England and the photographer, Tim Flach, said:

… using a bird from a private owner, was a peaceable affair. “I made an aviary where the bird couldn’t see me, but I could light it,” says Flach. “I had a turntable to put it on and it seemed quite happy to go around in circles until the angle was perfect.” He used a long lens so that the bird wouldn’t register his presence as he photographed it. “The crest usually lies flat but will activate in response to a sound or activity; I think we played some birdsong to get it interested.”

Don’t ask what a “private owner” was doing with a Cardinal. It certainly would not be legal in this country.