Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 3 · column 4 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
days and predict the tender treachery of spring with its abrupt changes in the weather. The Cardinal sings, “Whatcheer cheer cheer cheer,” or Whoit whoit whoit.” The song is variable, another bird made declare, “pur-ty pur-ty pur-ty”.
The male selects a prominent high perch from which to declare all rights to insects, berries and tangles within his thickety territory. He throws his head back and, with tail drooping straight down, hurls the strong, penetrating notes into the air. How often have I searched a leafless tree for the singer and, when finally locating him, wondering how I could have missed so bright a bird. Female Cardinals also sing though not so frequently; nor do her notes carry so far. It is not rare to hear the pair in a duet.
Cardinals are very territorial. Even now in January I see males chasing males from the feeder; females also keep the area clear of other females. Only rarely do I see males flying at females in an aggressive manner and have never seen females flying at males. I know from spring and summer Cardinal watching that our little yard will only support one pair of nesting birds. Constant small battles of winter have sorted out the dominant birds on territory. Intruders have been driven out.
Last summer I found the nest in a lilac bush gone all scraggly. It was only a few yards from the feeding tray. The nest is rarely more than
97.5%