Cardinal Love

Story

Ah, the heady days of spring. The warm spring winds blow gentle breezes; the occasional rain brightens up the growing green grasses. The flowers come out to bloom. And the cardinals fall in love all over again, for, after all, it is that time of the year.

This mated pair of cardinals in southern Arizona are enjoying just such a day. It is almost time for them to complete their annual mating ritual, and begin the process of ushering in their young. Of course, in the meantime, there is nothing to say that they can’t enjoy their day together.

The cardinal usually pairs with another single cardinal, and they select each other based on their physical appearances. Healthy looking cardinals will produce healthy offspring, and that in turn increases their odds of survival.

However, it should also come as no surprise that cardinals are at their best for singing during the mating season. The cardinal mating rituals, such as feeding each other seeds is a true delight to observe, and the bond that these birds form will last upwards of a year, and maybe even longer.

Love is in the air, and so are the cardinals in love.

A lovely companion

Cholla Cardinal makes an excellent companion to Cardinal Love.