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Cardinal Feeding -Demanding! Babies?

13 years ago

I wasn't sure where to post this, I've been trying to find some answers online about whether this might be the time of year for hatchlings. I've been feeding a pair of cardinals in zone 5, SE Michigan for the last couple years on and off, at least I assume it's the same pair. Work at home all day and the male in particular has a whole routine with me and will buzz the window (when I dutifully go out with sunflower seeds or walnuts or whatever). Lately it's all day long, and he's taken to perching on the frame and knocking on the window with his beak, flying into the back door and trying to see in because he knows I'm in here with food. When he sees me he goes crazy. I don't remember him ever being this earnest before and wondering if he's feeding some babies right now.

We live in a fairly urban area and actually found a dying rat in our driveway the other day, so I think the buffet needs to end, too much stray seed is probably attracting them. I'm also worried he doesn't know how to find his own food anymore, so I feel like I should wean him off. My husband thinks it might be hatchling season and I should keep it up awhile longer and then taper him off.

Any thoughts?

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Comments (3)

Elly_NJ
13 years ago
Hi,

This is a good time of year to stop feeding birds, because there is so much natural food available.

The hitting the window is not what you think, though. He is attacking the bird he sees, because he is protecting his territory. So he is attacking his reflection! If he were tending babies, he would be too busy to be doing things like that!
dianepmt
Original Author
13 years ago
thank you! I was under the impression food was scarce in the early spring. He is definitely not attacking the "bird in the window." I've seen that behavior with birds, and this is different. He perches wherever he can find a foothold and sits there cheeping and lightly pecking his beak on the glass (maybe because it's so close) until I look at him, he sees that I see him, and then he flies over to the door where he knows I come out! He also sits on the planter right outside the window and looks at me. If I don't come out within about 10 seconds, he comes back to the window to see what the holdup is about. It was hilarious for awhile, but it's actually starting to get annoying. He hangs out in any one of the nearby trees and as soon as i put the shade up or he sees activity in here, it starts up. I really thought maybe he was taking food back to a nest for some babies. When I go out with the seed, he'll buzz all around me. A few times I stood there with the food in my hand and he came close to landing, he'd buzz closer and closer, but wouldn't actually land on my hand. I'm sure if I had nothing but time to stand out there and wait, he'd eventually do it. I just think I've created a monster and he's gonna have to go browse the other neighborhood feeders or start digging up bugs, or whatever they eat.
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You might check to see if you have an Audubon Society branch in the area. I'm sure they would advise you on what to do at this point. If there isn't an office in the area you could call a more distant Audubon office. In the meantime, might the babies eat mealworms?(the ones people buy for their feeders). Also, I took care of some baby birds for a friend once (don't know how that happened) and I was instructed to give them chopped up pieces of cooked scrambled egg. They liked it. Also, you could try giving them water with a medicine dropper if you are concerned about the heat in the barn. I don't know much about birds but it sounds like something has happened to the parents. I would think that their being gone for four days is a bad sign. From what I've heard birds are generally very good parents. You are so goodhearted to take this on. I hope you can get some sound advice that will relieve you about this and resolve the babies' situation. Good luck -
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Elly_NJ
13 years ago
Sounds like he has you trained : )

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