Is anyone here a birder? A bird watcher? Knowledgeable about birds? I had an interesting day watching cardinals down here in FL. Just wanted to get other opinions.

This morning about 7:30 I put out the bird feeder. Nothing unusual, went back inside and got a cup of coffee. Maybe 30 min. later, went back outside with the intention of removing a plant and substituting a blue ginger and the location was near the feeder. Got out near the trees and saw this little cardinal that I thought was sick. Puffed up, breast looked like down and wings were getting red. It was huddled on the pinestraw and not moving. Went back inside. Maybe 3 hr later, went out and the baby scuttled away into some coleus. Probably 5 hr later, went out--little bird looked tailored and hopping naturally. I sprinkled sunflower seeds on the ground--he may have tried his first flight to get to the feeder. Looked out the window an hour later and there were 7 or 8 cardinals on the ground milling about, some snacking on the seeds. Went out much later and no baby bird. Peeping in one of the trees. Could they have convinced that thing that crashing on the first try isn't the end of it?

I'm just curious. I love having a garden that is visited by a variety of birds. For the first time, however, there are 3 cardinal nests in this very small beachside garden.

Yes! I definitely am a birder (understatement). Cardinals are awesome! I always consider it lucky to see the females because they are more skiddish. You'll have fun watching them!

We've had cardinals throughout the winter, along with nuthatch, chickadees, morning doves, etc. Just a couple of weeks ago I was filling the feeders during a heavy snow, and on my walk back to where I hang them, a little chickadee flew towards me then flew back to a branch. I stopped, and held up the feeder. After 3-4 brave tries, the chickadee landed on the feeder, took a seed, and flew back! Saw a bluebird recently, and now Phoebes are here! Good sign....

You may want to visit the Gardening for Butterlies Birds and Bees forum - they have a thread that is devoted to photos and chatter of birds at feeders and such. I'm a bird enthusiast and enjoy trying to ID the birds that visit my gardens.

It's pretty cool to watch baby birds learn and a heartache at the same time as you want to reach out to help and keep them safe. I am sure momma and daddy cardinal are close by letting their baby crash land and learn on his own.

On that note, we had the pleasure of watching baby bluejays grow up. Their nest had fallen out of the tree in a storm. I used rubber gloves and placed it back in the highest crook of the tree that I could reach. There were 3 babies inside! Momma and daddy came back! We were able to watch the growth of the chicks from our window for the couple weeks they were there. They grew up fast. They climbed up and up and up the tree and finally out of the tree to fly. I have video, um I mean VHS footage somewhere around here.

The most awesome part of this is that when all the cardinals descended on the garden, they did not allow the doves, blackbirds, bluejays or squirrel to be in the garden. Cardinals aren't very aggressive, but they did take care of that little one. Everything is back to normal now. I image this was the first of many episodes with young cardinals!

Cheryl, it is fun to watch this. We've lived here 16 years and some cardinals moved in permanently about 5 yr ago, but now the "snowbirds" are staying longer. It's amazing how much that flash of red adds to the garden! Up until this year the cardinals have been rather timid, flying off every time I opened a door. This year one of the snowbirds is very people savvy--he will stay on the feeder when I'm walking thru the garden and he will talk with his beak full if I don't acknowledge his presence. Let's just say that at his permanent home, some one talks to him constantly and has made him very comfortable with human contact. It's been a revelation to me!

Good that you were able to save the bluejays! I know a lot of people don't like them, but they pass thru Central FL this time of year and they are greedy at the feeder. A little too big to eat at this model of feeder. Doves have a problem too, but they have learned how to use it. Perfect size for cardinals. And for the red wing blackbirds. I could live without them! No other critter dares approach when the blackbirds are feeding.

Arlene, here's the Bird Photos thread - lots of traffic on that thread, both pictures and discussions.

The thread "Bird photos - March 2016" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum