I loved the summers on my grandfather’s farm in Mount Vernon, Ohio. My favorite place to play was below the apple trees in the orchard. I would lay in the shade, read my favorite books, and occasionally, eat an apple or two. There was always a light breeze that would sway the trees. As the sun set, the cicadas would begin their symphony. Alas, I would have to leave my orchard behind, and wait listlessly for another day. This explains why I was always excited to awake in the morning. The first sound I would hear were the birds chirping. It was as if a new cycle began, yet another beautiful day. As I grew older, my grandfather taught me to recognize one bird’s specific melody. He would whistle the tune in the orchard before he went to the fields to bale hay. It was the song of America’s favorite backyard bird, the Northern Cardinal.
Image by statesymbolsusa.org
The Cardinal is the state bird of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. This bird is a popular, little guy. According to Ohio History Central, Cardinals were not common in the Ohio area late into the 1800’s. This was due to the densely forested enviroment. When European settlers began thinning the forests for logging purposes, the Northern Cardinal began populating the area. The bird likes a mixed enviroment of plains and woodland, making the modern Ohio its perfect home.
Surprisingly, Cardinals do not migrate. They tend to build sheltered nests during the winter. These nests are typically made up of shrubs and are located in areas like parks, edges of forests, or just a simple backyard. As said before, Cardinals are pretty much America’s favorite bird. Devoted lovers of Cardinals will often cater to the animal by setting up bird houses and bird feeders.
It is very easy to make a Cardinal home.
Cardinals like open nesting areas. They will most likely not use store-bought, wooden birdhouses. A wooden nesting platform built near trees and shrubs may be the most successful way to entice Cardinals.
A bird feeder is another popular way to attract Cardinals.
Just fill the feeder with bird seed, and the cardinals will be flocking towards it. Cardinals tend to like sunflower seeds, corn, and peanuts.
It is always easy to spot Cardinals. Their vibrant red feathers and beak set them apart from other birds. However, many do not realize that they may be seeing more Cardinals than it appears. There is a common misconception that all Cardinals are red. This is false. According to the website, All About Birds, Female Cardinals look nothing like the males. Their feathers are mostly brown, with the only similarity being the black coloring of the face and red beak.
Cardinals are well-loved creatures that can be found all over the United States. Their lovely song, and stunning appearance have captured the hearts of all Americans. I will always remember the specific chirp of the Northern Cardinal. Their song was like the musical theme to my childhood. Every time I hear that little red bird, I can almost hear my grandfather whistling along.
I had sort of a similar situation to yours. My grandmother lives right outside of Cleveland, and she has a backyard completed with countless birdfeeders, hollow tree stumps, and a fountain for all the wildlife to enjoy. My family goes over each year for Thanksgiving, and when I wake up in the early mornings I get to see the entire ecosystem playing out through a window screen. You see the squirrels, the racoons, but most importantly, to me at least, you see the birds. The robin was always a frequent visitor to her yard, and I was always amazed to see an animal that vibrant and beautiful when I was a kid. The animals never got scared when humans came, so sometimes I would sit outside and listen to all the songs that the birds made. The robin’s call always stood out to me. I dont know what it was, but it was just so simple and beautiful. I think the simple things- the birds, the trees, the streams hidden in the depths of the woods- all bring so much of the serenity to nature and are the reasons it is so beautiful. The robins were always something I got to look forward to when we went to her house every year. Whenever I see one, I always think about her and those mornings when I watched the wildlife through the screen door. Your post was a great reminder of those peaceful memories.