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Re: Cardinals and suet; begging behavior; Waterthrush persists



Heather, We have Cardinals eating from the suet feeders year 'round and
the suet we use is home-made with no seeds! They just seem to really
like it.
Ken (Rock. County, nc)

"Wallace, Heather" wrote:
> 
> Josh and others;
> 
> On Monday 4/02/01, Joshua Stuart Rose Wrote:
> 
> My girlfriend's suet feeder is finally attracting some customers, but not
> the ones I expected: Cardinals! Not sure if they really like the suet, or
> if they're just picking out the seeds. I'm just glad SOMEbody's eating it!
> 
> I have had both male and female cardinals coming to my suet feeder for the
> last month or so.  They only come just after I replace the "block" and can
> reach through the cage to get at the suet.  I have seen them actually eat
> the suet, not just the seeds.  I wonder if they need the added energy from
> the fatty meal in light of all the extra calories required for springtime
> aggression / nest building / egg laying?
> 
> On a related note, II had many drenched visitors to my feeders yesterday,
> even during the brief hail we experienced here in Raleigh!  A pair of
> white-breasted nuthatches came repeatedly during the afternoon, and I
> witnessed the female "begging" for suet from the male...wing fluttering and
> squeaking the entire time.  Each time the female fluttered her wings, she
> sprayed water all over the male!
> 
> Also, the Louisiana Waterthrush remains at Swift Creek Bluffs in Cary.  I
> was out on Saturday photographing wildflowers (bloodroot, spring beauties,
> blue violets, cut-leaved toothwort, trout lily, anemone, etc.) and was met
> by the emphatic chip notes as I rounded a bend in the stream.  Other species
> include butterbutts, red-winged blackbirds, singing ruby-crowned kinglets,
> northern paulas, and cedar waxwings.  Also spotted two gray treefrogs!!
> 
> Cheers!
> Heather
> 
> Heather Wallace
> Biologist, Earth Tech
> 701 Corporate Center Dr.
> Raleigh, NC 27607
> 919-854-6252