Fascinating facts about our state bird

Occasionally a reader will ask me if I could write about some subject that is of particular interest to them. Last week, as I was ordering lunch at a local fast food restaurant, the person who was helping me said, "I know that cardinals are very common but I sure wish that you would write something about these beautiful birds." So, this column is for all of you who admire this brightly colored resident of most backyards.

Actually, cardinals are very popular and, in fact, are the state bird of six states in addition to Virginia. Originally considered a species of the Southeast, since the early 1800s their range has been expanding both to the north and west. Known by many as simply "redbirds," only the male has the characteristic scarlet color from which the species gets its name. Studies indicate that the richness and intensity of the red are indicators of enhanced reproductive ability. In other words, the prettier the male, the better he will be at caring for the young.

The females, who do all of the incubating and brooding, are more subtly colored in dusky fawn with shades of red on the face, crest and tail. Both adults have a heavy, conical, orange bill. The young look very similar to females, but the bill is dark gray or black. Both sexes sing and the incubating females call to their mates for food.

Cardinals are non-migratory and pair bonding usually begins in mid-February. A pair from the previous year may mate again, but "divorce" among cardinals is fairly common. Nests are constructed almost exclusively by females in shrubs or small trees and egg laying begins shortly after the nest is complete. The usual clutch size is between three to five eggs and the incubation period is around 12 days. Both parents tend to the young, with the male providing most of the food, and the young leave the nest anywhere from nine to 13 days after hatching.

The timing of a second nesting depends on the success of the previous attempt. If a nest is lost before the young fledge, the pair will usually immediately begin a second attempt. If all of the young survive, a pair may wait two or more weeks to begin construction of a second nest.

At this time of year, cardinals begin to congregate in areas with a plentiful food supply and often this is around bird feeders. If you feed birds, you may have noticed that cardinals are usually the first to arrive and the last to depart. I often think of them as my alpha and omega birds. What a lovely way to greet the dawn and end the day

News and notes

Poor weather conditions have contributed to a rather slow-hawk watching season at nearby Harveys Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway. On Sept. 18, it was cool and very cloudy at Harveys Knob and we counted 75 broadwings crossing the ridge that day. To the north, at Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, conditions were more favorable that day resulting in a flight of 10,766.

Dalmas, a naturalist, writes a weekly column for The News & Advance. Readers may email her at jtdalmas@juno.com.