What a gorgeous picture! That one is worth framing. I've seen male cardinals feed females plenty of times. I read that it's called "Mate Feeding". Found this on the web: History of Mate Feeding "Mate feeding" is actually a common occurrence in bird species. Raptors, such as the European Kestrel, as well as songbirds practice this ritual. In cardinals, it is seen both before mating and while the female is incubating her clutch of eggs. No one knows for sure why this ritual takes place, but there are several schools of thought. Mate Feeding As Ritual When mate feeding occurs prior to egg-laying, it's possible that the extra nutrition helps the female when it's time to lay her eggs. Another theory is that it may increase the likelihood that the female will mate with the male--a form of courtship. Females may also judge the parenting ability of the prospective mate by how well he provides for her. Mate Feeding After Egg-Laying When mate feeding happens during the incubation period, it may also serve to help with pair-bonding. This can be important to keep the pair together during the short breeding season. Additionally, it may allow the female to remain on the eggs longer than if she had to constantly forage for food.

Yes she did! It seems they stick around for several weeks/month until flock disperses for breeding,.. still lots of Crab Apples, Mountain Ash, High bush Cranberry, Chokecherries, Russian Olive etc. around, they might even pick off new buds on trees. Only had ones a nest in the backyard around 25 years ago in a little spruce trees about 4 foot up, now that tree is HUGE. Have never seen the Cedars here in winter, they soon will be returning and I will see usually several nest out on the hobby farm, [above pictures] planted several hundred spruce trees from seeds. Hardly ever see Bohemian nest,..I'll have to ask them where they go.

Finally saw our first waxwings this week in our blueberries. To me, the arrival of waxwings in southern Il seems strange. I associate the waxwing as a northern bird. However, they don't arrive here till mid June and stay sometimes two or three months before disappearing. Most birds migrate through here much earlier and stay a month at the most. We also are enjoying our towhee every single day as he visits the ground surrounding our feeders. I only see one though. We are fortunate to have loads of cardinals; and, yesterday, he spent a good half hour chasing one particular female around. I think the poor lovelorn thing must be getting desperate. Finally, our summer tanagers are back, and I have been blessed with some real close encounters with them. They like to hang out at our red raspberries and blackberries and have a very unique vocalization.

We had one nest here in southern Indiana, first we had nesting, nested in a black walnut tree. now we have a mystery of a nest with a small bird that we have not got a real close look at, 3 eggs, blue with black swirls about 10 ft off the ground in a apple tree. The cedar waxwings travel in flocks except when they are nesting