The Christmas Bird | The Press

Omnipresent during the holidays, it could be called the Christmas bird. Wrapping paper, greeting cards and so many other decorative items highlight it at this time of year, usually against a backdrop of snow.

But unlike the man with the white beard, the red cardinal is the object of happiness all year round. It’s hard not to fall under the spell of this feathered splendour. As proof, he is the avian emblem of seven American states, baseball and professional football each have a team named after him, he is the mascot of countless university and school sports organizations. Vendors of feeders and food for wild birds are also betting on its beauty to attract birdwatchers.

Owner of the Nature Expert store in Montreal’s east end, Alain Goulet confirms that the red bird is the species most prized by amateurs with feeding stations. “Everyone wants to attract a cardinal to their home. It exerts an incredible fascination. To the point that any object where we find his photo or his representation sells easily. »

An expanding bird

Once very rare in Quebec — the first nest of this bird was discovered in the 1960s — the northern cardinal has experienced a spectacular expansion here over the past 30 years, a phenomenon partly attributable to winter feeding and less cold winters . Easy to observe, the male attracts attention with its flamboyant color, the greenish female being more discreet in her finery. His behavior also adds to his popularity.

First to arrive at the feeders in the morning, he is often the last to leave at the end of the day. He lives with us all year round and is monogamous, although we have already seen females sharing the same nest and the same father. Each pair raises two broods annually. The male feeds the female at the nest during incubation, but takes care of the three or four young of the first brood while the lady takes care of the offspring to come. Male and female sing, sometimes even as a duo, and acoustic analyzes have shown that Madame can indicate to the partner the right time to bring food home.

Sometimes confusing behavior

During the breeding season, the parents will not hesitate to drive away any congener who tries to invade their territory. The situation often leads the males to persist for days or even weeks chasing a hypothetical competitor who is none other than their own reflection in a window or a mirror. Another confusing aspect: during moulting, some go completely bald, while in winter, others will sometimes “taste” Christmas lights, believing that they are small fruits.

The most astonishing case is probably this altruistic male who enjoyed feeding seven large goldfish in a pond!

As charming as he is, the cardinal can be aggressive at the feeding station towards smaller ones. But its existence is not easy. Eggs, chicks or adults are regular items on the menu of a host of predators like the cat, gray squirrel, raccoon, Cooper’s hawk, blue jay and even the tiny chipmunk. He must also deal with a procession of mini-vampires, because he is very popular with mosquitoes. Exceptionally in birds, his organism would eliminate the dangerous West Nile virus, so that he cannot transmit the parasite to another mosquito. One more reason to try to lure him into his yard.

Just take a look on the internet to see the considerable number of feeders that are intended for it. Alain Goulet recommends one that has a pendulum adapted to the weight of the bird, thus allowing it exclusive access to food. Made in Quebec and sold for around $50, this feeder allows you to offer safflower, seeds very appreciated by our firebird, but disdained by squirrels. Regardless of the menu offered and its presentation, the cardinal also appreciates black sunflower and several other cereals. Occasionally, he even shells peanuts into shells.