Author Topic: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??  (Read 8917 times)

Offline Chief Oratam

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 137
  • Karma: 1
    • View Profile
Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« on: February 13, 2010, 11:36:40 AM »



Are there any back yard bird feeders here...?

and if so.....

Has anyone noticed the lack of Cardinals and Blue Jays this year.....I really didn't miss them until the 12 '' of snow this past wednesday....usually when the ground is blanketed with snow like this....they are at my feeder....but not this year... none to be seen anywhere....just wondering if maybe they moved to your back yard....



Offline Editor

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4430
  • Karma: 17
    • View Profile
    • Hackensack Now
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2010, 12:30:31 PM »
I wonder if their absence has anything to do with an increase in raptors. 

I typically notice them more in Spring.




Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2010, 01:56:39 PM »
On another site, a woman in Georgia posted a picture of 2 cardinals in the snow there this week. A woman in Miami praised the picture and then said:

"We get cardinals in our backyard too, although we haven't seen any lately. I think ours may have flown further south."


Hmmm.........


I usually get one chirping away in a pine tree just below my living room window, but I think it's a little early for that.



.
Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline just watching

  • Long-time poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 928
  • Karma: -25
    • View Profile
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2010, 06:44:19 PM »
You are not imagining, there has been a catastrophic decline in the Blue Jay population and their closest relative, the Common Crow.

I did a little searching online, the culprit is the West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus is most seriously impacting the following avian species:  Crow, Black-Capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay, Ring-Billed Gull, Common Grackle, House Finch, and House Sparrow.

Other species in decline are Northern Cardinals, owls, all species of raptors, and Gray Catbird.

The virus is new to the Western Hemisphere, and will decimate many species of birds.  Those few that survive will be genetically resistant, and pass on their genes, while those which are not immune will not pass on their genes.  So in a few dozen bird generations, there will be a new population that is resistant to the virus.   Not in our lifetime, but this is an example of evolution in action.

Offline Editor

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4430
  • Karma: 17
    • View Profile
    • Hackensack Now
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2010, 10:09:32 AM »
A friend told me she saw 3 female cardinals and at least one male in her backyard last week.  She uses a particular seed to attract cardinals.
« Last Edit: February 18, 2010, 04:52:33 PM by Editor »

Offline Chief Oratam

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 137
  • Karma: 1
    • View Profile
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2010, 02:23:55 PM »

I have a Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal out at my feeder now ....I think its as JustWatching says it might be the West Nile....Because there used to be alot more Cardinals then there are now.....

They are really tough birds them and Blue Jays..They will fight for theirs.....

I dont think its a rapture issue ...I do have a Sharp Shin Hawk that uses my back yard as it's own little deli from time to time....but it only seems to like the more delicate and tender Morning Doves.....all you see is a little pile of fine downy feathers when its through....

That's Nature.............
« Last Edit: February 26, 2010, 02:26:50 PM by Chief Oratam »

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2010, 03:44:13 PM »
There's a tree outside my living room window where the occasional cardinal or blue jay comes to sing.

A cardinal came by today and I recorded the song on my cellphone (you can't see the bird, who's in the middle of the tree). Later, I heard the cardinal again and recorded that too.

During playback, I noticed that the songs were different.

Any ornithologists out there who'd know if these are male and female songs or just 2 birds with different musical tastes?


<a href="http://v5.tinypic.com/player.swf?file=qzg3h0&amp;s=5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://v5.tinypic.com/player.swf?file=qzg3h0&amp;s=5</a><a href="http://v5.tinypic.com/player.swf?file=2ikdx6x&amp;s=5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://v5.tinypic.com/player.swf?file=2ikdx6x&amp;s=5</a>
Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline Editor

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4430
  • Karma: 17
    • View Profile
    • Hackensack Now
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2010, 08:54:19 PM »
Interesting.  I  had always thought I was hearing two different species when I heard those calls.  You recorded two of the ten song types of cardinals.

For anyone who is really curious: http://math.uc.edu/~pelikan/Dora/AllNoCamp3/NoCaSummary.html

« Last Edit: April 05, 2010, 08:59:25 PM by Editor »

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2010, 03:52:36 PM »
You recorded two of the ten song types of cardinals.
A little (red) birdie told me that the two songs were celebratory in nature and that they were sung because Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols hit two home runs in the season opener yesterday. ;)



.
Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline Homer Jones

  • Long-time poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 622
  • Karma: 16
    • View Profile
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2010, 06:01:54 PM »
Lucky that the Cardinals weren't up against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: Cardinals and Blue Jays ??
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2010, 09:24:33 PM »
Lucky that the Cardinals weren't up against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Too bad that the Blue Jays weren't visiting the Baltimore Orioles in their nest stadium yesterday.



.
Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

 

anything