I had to return to Illinois a couple of weeks ago for personal reasons. While there I hoped to be able to shoot all sorts of new critters.
One of those critters, though not new, was a Cardinal. I found several willing subjects and one bird in particular stood out.
Cardinals don’t exist in my area of the country, so it is always a treat to photograph them.
But one Cardinal sure took the cake. Named “Grandpa” by the people who see him daily, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Grandpa was a very skittish bird. Any time I tried to get an image of him that was not through the patio glass door, he flew away. Although a bit soft, this was one of the better images of him I captured.
Someone mentioned that this bird was probably in the molt. However, birds generally molt after the breeding season, then again before it. This fellow includes a mal-formed bill, along with the bald spots. Which leads me to believe he has some sort of disease.
If the person who was responsible for making the Cardinal the Illinois state bird had seen this instead of the top bird, I doubt it would have been selected.
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15 comments:
The Cardinal is very special to me, because, as you know, it was my grandma's favorite bird.
I always react at how beautiful, both the male and female of the species are. Yet, ummm, Grandpa leaves a bit to be desired. Poor guy. I'm sure all the other Cardinals talk about him behind his back. ;-)
....and for some reason, Illinois is LOADED with these beauties!!!!!
We have so many cardinals here, and they often take over the bird feeder yet the sparrows and finches wait patiently 'til they're gone.
Wow that's an interesting shot!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
i just reecently lwearned how different they are in various parts of the country/
Oh, dear. Grandpa is balding.
I never get tired of cardinals. I've read about bald cardinals before here and I've seen one just like Grandpa at a zoo as well.
I had a cardinal like that in my yard a couple of years ago. I read up and it can be mites that make them lose feathers. It was the strangest looking think I ever saw. Yours is even funnier looking. Poor guy. must be hard to get a date.
hope grandpa recovers!
We don't get cardinals here and I only get to see them on Christmas cards and on Camera Critters. What a striking and beautiful bird. Such a vibrant red. Well, except for grandpa. But hey, he's still there fighting, so that's something :-)
I think grandpa is a handsome devil. Not many birds get to look that way, so he's one in a million!
Rosie
Oh, poor Grandpa. Gotta give him full marks for effort, however.
Your first photo is lovely!
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
nice shots
Check Mine here
Oh, poor Grandpa! But still flying and looking fine...
I haven't seen very many cardinals...very awesome! My Camera Critters today is of a bird also!
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