Cardinal King Usurped

By Corey • April 17, 2007 • 6 comments

When I got home from work today I realized that I needed to brush my cats, especially B.B., the long-haired one. The male Northern Cardinal who has been ruling my balcony was not pleased with the disruption to his feeding schedule and let me know it by perching in the budding maple tree that has finally gotten taller than the railing of the balcony and chirping his displeasure.

And then, to show he meant business, he summoned reinforcements in the form of House Sparrows to back him up.

Needless to say, the cats were interested but not impressed.

Hunter and B.B., from the same litter, believe it or not

Once the brushing was done the cats came back inside and peace ruled in the cardinal kingdom.

Tags: Albany, cardinals, cats, House Sparrows

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About the Author

Corey

Corey is a New Yorker who has lived most of his life upstate but has spent the last three years in Queens. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy, their son, Desmond Shearwater, and their two indoor cats, Hunter and B.B.

6 Responses to “Cardinal King Usurped”

Larry Apr 17th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I actually enjoy watching the male Cardinal kick the house sparrows out of the feeder.-Other than that, Cardinals seem very timid.-I have a cat too but it’s an indoor cat.-nice pictures.
Corey Apr 17th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
@ Larry: My cats are strictly indoor cats too, except for the occasional foray onto my 3rd-floor apartment’s balcony. And pretty much all I get is the local pair of cardinals and house sparrows!
susangetsnative Apr 17th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
No way…from the SAME LITTER????
Corey Apr 18th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Yup…four kittens in the litter, two like BB, two like Hunter. And we all think birds can get confusing…
Stephanie Apr 19th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
i see the cardinal brought his posse along.
Corey Apr 19th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Yeah, he was rolling deep…now if he would only bring some warblers with him next time.

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