My neighbor's grandmother taught me something about cardinals back in 1987

Old Mrs. Chen from three doors down showed me how male cardinals will actually eat right out of your hand if you stand still long enough with sunflower seeds, and she proved it on a snowy Tuesday morning that I still remember clear as day. Has anyone else had an older birder share a trick that totally changed how you see a common bird?

2 comments

2 Comments

sagesingh1mo ago

Old Mrs. Chen proving it on a snowy Tuesday morning is exactly the kind of memory that sticks with you forever. I had an older guy at a park show me that chickadees will land on a branch right next to your head if you hold still and make a soft pishing sound. It totally changed how I see them because now I know they're not just shy birds, they're actually checking you out and deciding if you're safe. That trick has gotten me some amazing close looks over the years, way better than just watching from a distance. It's wild how a little patience and a simple tip from someone who's been doing it forever can open up a whole new side of bird behavior you never noticed before.

webb.jordan1mo ago

Is it really that deep though, they're just tiny birds being birds.