Beauty of Cardinals

Cardinals are beautiful birds. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing a few over the years and I always take joy in capturing their personalities. Males hide in the shrubbery or behind tree branches to conceal the brightness of their bodies. It’s an effort in patience to wait them out until they fully reveal themselves. Bird feeders help draw them out but sometimes it’s just not the specific look I want for a photo. Females are not as elusive but can still create a wait game for me as I patiently wait for the perfect shot.

Recently, a mated cardinal pair nested in my backyard. I have watched and waited to get photos, both of the nestlings and of the parents. Today, the Mama and Daddy birds were hanging around the nest but I didn’t see any activity IN the nest. It’s likely the chicks have fledged and were still in the area and Mama and Daddy were staying close for encouragement. I didn’t see any evidence of the chicks, so I hope they are safely on their way to joining the cardinal community.