The Cardinal: State Bird of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio Page: 4 of 8
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The Cardinal
Some people contend that feeding birds around the house makes
beggars of them, but this is not so. Watch any bird that comes to your food
shelf and notice how it investigates every nook and cranny, as it loiters
about the garden. The cardinal eats some insects, nearly one-third of its
diet, and an almost equal amount of wild fruit, but, as the bird's strong
bill would lead us to suspect, it has an especial fondness for weed seeds.
A bird with such food habits is very welcome in any garden or orchard.
Feed the Birds
There is no better way to acquaint yourself with winter birds than by
feeding them-attracting them to your dooryard where you can really get
a good look at them. Do not wait until the first cold snap of winter, but
start in October or November.. Birds are doing a great deal of wandering
at that time-journeying through the woods, fields and swamps. By the
time winter really sets in, they will have their daily route of travel on which
they can be most certain of a good supply of food. There is an advantage,
then, of putting out feed trays early. The birds get used to your hospitality
before the arrival of winter.
Everyone should remember that once he has started to feed the birds,
it is a responsibility that should not be neglected. Some fair-weather friends
of the birds stop giving them aid when the frigid blasts become a little too
uncomfortable. The birds, of course, need help then more than ever, and
if help is suddenly withdrawn, they cannot always find a good natural food
supply quickly. Remember then, that once you have started to feed the
birds, keep it up through the entire winter--at least until the thaws make
it unnecessary. There is not much point in putting up feeding shelves in
spring or summer.
Range
THE CARDINAL (Richnondena cardinalis) has been separated into
five slightly different races north of the Mexican boundary: (1) EAST-
ERN CARDINAL (R. c. cardinalis) found east of the Great Plains, from
southeastern South Dakota, southern Iowa, northern Indiana, northern
Ohio, southern Ontario (locally), southern New York and New Jersey,
south to the northern parts of the Gulf states: (2) FLORIDA CARDINAL
(R. c. floridana) Florida; (3) LOUISIANA CARDINAL (R. c. mag-
nirostris) eastern Texas and southern Louisiana; (4) GRAYTAILED
CARDINAL (R. c. canicautda) southern, central and western Texas;
(5) ARIZONA CARDINAL (R. c. superba) southern Arizona and south-
western New Mexico.
Copyright 1943, National Audubon Society.
This and other Bird Leaflets are for sale, at 10 cents each, (6 or more 5 cents each) from the
National Audubon Society, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York 28, N. Y. Lists given on request.Printed in U.S.A.
3M-3-52
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Peterson, Roger Tory, 1908-1996. The Cardinal: State Bird of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, pamphlet, {1915..1943}; New York City, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1343599/m1/4/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.