Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Listening to love

female cardinal

For the past week, my male cardinal has been singing his heart out every morning. He is happy, he is in love and I think he's getting ready to have a family. I caught this photo of the object of his affection. Look at her tilting her head - she is listening to him sing from a nearby tree. Valentines Day has come early to my yard!

33 comments:

BirdingMaine said...

And what a better Valentine gift than a bird all spiffed up in red.

They may want to get to it and snuggle, from mid February until the end of the month it's to get real cold again.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Don't you just LOVE the Cardinals? I have heard they mate for life, or at least for as long as they are able to reproduce. I wondered how love they live, because I have had a wonderful pair in my yard for 3 years now. The oldest one noted that I could find was 16 years. I hope my Mr. Baldy lives that long.

Please visit my blog. If you go back a few months I have lots of bird and critter pics.

I really enjoy your blog.

Carol in Northern Indiana

Kelly said...

Awww!! Sweet...she's pretty too...

Ms. ~K said...

Our cardinals have been frisky the last couple of days...spring and love are in the air!!!!
She is beautiful.
~Kit

Anonymous said...

Beautiful LOVE story!
I have a question: Today, a male cardinal kept trying to fly into the same "fake" stained glass window in our bath. He did that for a very long time. I had tied a piece of ribbon to the window to deter him but the house is getting prepped for painting and the painters took it down. Any ideas why the cardinal does this??

Kim said...

What a sweet, sweet photo. Her face is darling! I have yet to hear him sing his song but I am eagerly anticipating it!

Patsy said...

Ant love grand. LOL

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I'm featuring a pretty female Cardinal tomorrow also... Ours are beginning to do alot of singing also.. Spring must be coming soon!!!!

Great picture.
Hugs,
Betsy

KathyB. said...

I wish we had cardinals here, the bird kind.....the closest we have are some of the finches and I do get a few finches that are almost as red as the male cardinal. But alas, only ALMOST !

Jayne said...

Sweetness!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Shelly: What a really neat look at the female. I have a pair already traveling together.

Chris said...

Excellent!!! She is a cute valentine, isn't she??? A beautiful shot. Let's hope they not gonna start to breed to early!!

NCmountainwoman said...

We're hearing lots of singing around here as well. Makes for a wonderful early morning.

Craig Glenn said...

No doubt about it Shelly, those birds are twitterpated!

Craig

Mary said...

That is so sweet! What a nice valentine for all of us. I've been hearing a lot of bird song the last few days. Spring is in the air!

Anonymous said...

Love is in the air!

Knatolee said...

We had lots of cardinals last winter, but this year I haven't seen a single one. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Connie said...

Perfect for Valentine's Day, Shelley! Lovely photo. :)

Anonymous said...

I have a lone cardinal looking for a lady..have any extras?

Deb said...

How beautiful! The prettiest red Valentine in the garden :-)

Anonymous said...

As I've said before, you have patience! Wonderful shot...and I can see BARE GROUND! LUCKY YOU!!!

Some of the birds ARE singing spring songs in da U.P. THAT makes one feel really good!

Jessica said...

Wow... are birds looking for mates already? I have big plans to put up a lot of nesting boxes this spring. I better hurry up!

mon@rch said...

Must be Cardinal Love . . !

Olde Tyme Marketplace said...

SHe has the sweetest face! Great Backyard Bird Count underway!!
Hope your day is great!!
Beth

Tina said...

...and she is quite striking esp with those valentine colors..calling out!
Great shot..what body language..communicating with singing one note!!

Deborah Godin said...

Oh yes, that's the "head tilt of love" she's got. I think I hear Mario Lanza singing "...you may see a stranger, across a crowded..."

Designs on 47th Street said...

I am so impressed with the pictures you capture of our feathered friends. Isn't the female cardinal almost as beautiful as the male in her own way?

Fun post!!

Donna

Nick S said...

It does seem as if she's listening :-)

troutbirder said...

Totally romantic post here on Valentines day.

Nature Nut /JJ Loch said...

How precious and beautiful!!! I looove cardinals. :D

Hugs, JJ

Anonymous said...

It was warm enough this week to go for a little walk at lunch in Indiana and I also heard a male cardinal singing such a happy song. It really brightened my whole afternoon. I may go out a buy a birdfeeder for our "picnic" area at work.
Thanks for the wonderful pics.
Karen

Unknown said...

The subtle tilt of the head is such a beautiful pose and you got her amazingly.

Leedra said...

She is pretty, can see why he is singing to her.

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