Sunday, January 9, 2011

Snow Shock!

On the way to afternoon feeding, I was stunned when I almost missed this poor little thing sitting like a statue in front of the Old House.  He didn't move a wing when I approached.  Despite being a bit dirty, this red beauty banged into the one of the parlor windows.  Nugget was a good boy and did nothing after I firmly warned him to stay away.  I gently attempted to lift the cardinal from the ground and he flew only a few feet in the air and landed in the paddock.  He was like a broken miniature airplane with tail drag. 
Wondering if he broke a small bone or received internal injury, I briskly walked back to the porch and got some black oil sunflower seed to lure him to ingest some good protein!  Don't all males like to eat?  I backed off to watch and wait.  Nothing.
All of his kind were happily eating at the feeder so I thought I might carry him there in case he had mated for life so she could see what had happened.  Not sure if cardinals mate that way but I think swans and geese do, so what the heck.  Being around his friends would certainly help! He wouldn't feel alone and the dense green hawthorn bushes offer good protection from the elements for him to rest and recover.
Alas, I think the seed told him I was trustworthy, and he permitted the buttery soft leather fingers to gently surround his tender little body.  Oh no, I can't jump over the fence with no hands so I had to take the long way around.  Would he be a patient little soul?  My little bird flew into the branches of the hawthorn bush and I couldn't find him despite peering all around and wouldn't you know, a delivery man arrived watching the crazy farm lady with her head deep within the branches.  Too funny!
When it snows or goes below 32 degrees, I keep the barn cats in so the birds can safely eat and the kitties don't get frost bitten noses or paw pads.  Thank goodness it was snowing that day or one of the following might have had a meal!
Callie is a very good hunter and passed her skills to her big bad son, Cricket.
   Although Daddy Cat is quite abundant in girth, he is a very fine hunter!
          Little shy Sylvester is not as innocent out in the barn yard!
But this is the thing that is most ferocious...even his toes and claws are over sized not to mention his fangs.  I am not kidding!
             Could that be my little bird chatting with some girls?

22 comments:

Mary Ann said...

Oh, I hope he lives! The cardinals here are always the last at the feeder in the evening... waiting until all the other birds have gone. In years past we have had six or seven pair, but this year, only two. I hope nothing happened to the others. Your pictures are very good.

Verde Farm said...

Oh my gosh-bless his heart. I hope he was a little shocked from the fall. Seems like he did well if he flew into the bush. Any sign of him since or do you think he flew away with his friends?

The kitties are so pretty but you are right-not so pretty to a wounded little cardinal. They are certainly well fed barn kitties--so healthy and pretty :)

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

Oh, the poor little bird. Nature can be cruel. On a brighter note your barn cats are very pretty.

Paint Girl said...

Cardinals are such pretty birds! Good for you for saving the little fellow!
We feed our birds too, but our one cat Morgan is a bird killer, and I hate it when she gets them. But she won't go inside so she has to stay outside.

V.L. Locey said...

Wow, that was quite the story! I can`t recall ever getting that close to a cardinal.

Razzberry Corner said...

Probably the little cardinal boy was just stunned. I've had a few birds crash into my windows. They must have an awful headache and need to take a breather on the ground a bit. After about an hour they get up and fly away. If I interrupt them, they fly away sooner. Poor little birds! And yes, if the cats found your bird during his breaktime, that would be the end of that little birdie! I love your barncats. We only have 1 wild cat, Jerry. One is enough for us! We used to have more cats outside, but Shadow girl moved inside, and her twin Smokey disappeared. So much drama on a farm!
~Lynn

Linda said...

I hope he's okay!! You did the best you could for him and gave him a chance.

I had a robin one time sit on our deck and continually fly into our window. He did it hundreds of times, day after day. I rearranged everything in my house thinking he was trying to get to something he could see from the window, but it never stopped until he disappeared.

♥I am Holly♥ said...

What a beautiful cardinal. I really hope he makes it. That was so sweet of you to go get him and bring him food. I did laugh about the delivery truck though. That's the things that always seem to happen to me. Love your kitties! Lots of love, Debbie

lisa said...

Oh, poor thing! Such a nice crazy farm lady!

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

Great photos! Here in upstate New York we have not had a lot of snow but the cold is very bitter especially at night and I worry about all the creatures out there trying to stay warm...
I hope your little cardinal just needed a break from flying through the frozen air.
Tina xo

Leslie said...

Oh my gosh, that poor little birdie. But what a beautiful color against that white snow.

Love.love.love. your kitties!

Angela said...

I think that cardinals do mate for life. I've seen them in pairs at my feeder. The male will feed the female! It's the sweetest thing I've ever seen at my feeders. I just love the cardinals!

I do hope that he made it alright! You got some great pictures of him. The red color sure does pop around the white snow.

Stay warm!
Angela

Lori Skoog said...

Thank you for visiting and the suggestion about the cards. I do not have a clue as to how I can put water marks on them. If you know how, could you email me or send back a comment.

I just caught up...feel the same way you do about hunting season. We are surrounded by woods and big fields and there are many deer, but they have never come close to our property. That last cat shot looks just like Sidney! I hope the cardinal survived. Hopefully the snow will disappear quickly.

Magda Machnicka said...

Oh, I like so much your farm, and your cats, and horses, and birds! I will look forward to read the new stories from this lovely place!

Warm regards from Warsaw in Poland! :-)

Patrice said...

Excellent rescue! Amy at Verde Farm suggested you for one of my Barn Chick who Blog interviews. I'd like to interview you. You can check out the interview I just did on Amy's blog today. Please let me know if you would be interested.
Thanks,
Patrice
www.everydayruralty.com
patrice@everydayruralty.com

Louise said...

Well, my goodness! How have I missed your blog? I was sent here because you posted about a cardinal, too. I'm very glad that you were able to save him. They are such pretty fellows, and I really enjoy seeing them around, especially in the Winter.

I'll have to thank the person who sent me here, but, for sure, I'll be back.

Rising Rainbow said...

That red really is brilliant against the snow. Hope he survives.

I'm a cat lover so I think all of your kitties are awesome. We only have two right now but have been known to have more once in a while. If my husband had his way we'd have dozens. LOL

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

What a good soul you are for coming to his rescue. I'm sure he just stunned himself when he flew into the window. That happened once while my husband and I were working outside, the little just just sat there, we gave him some seed and water and he eventually flew off! Have a wonderful weekend!

John Going Gently said...

what a lovely blog
greetings from wales UK
x

Namacura said...

Hi, thanks for stopping by! I feel the same way about all of our outside critters... they got extra seeds during the snow in Georgia. I can truly relate, the neighbors probably think I am insane.

thecrazysheeplady said...

We need an update - hopefully happy ending :-).

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

I think cardinals are very loyal to their mates. I will remember this sad story all my life, one day on my way to work I saw a male cardinal sitting in the middle of the road when I got up to him I realized he was sitting next to his lady friend who had been hit by a car and was dead, on my way home he was still there but had also been hit, it was very sad!