I’ve taken this idea from TheGypsyMama, who hosts Five-Minute Fridays. I like the idea, but didn’t feel like either posting this on a Friday OR writing about the prompted topic. That’s not to say I’ll never formally participate. And so. Here’s my five minute slammajamma, randomly presented on whichever day I want.
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There was a cardinal on my front lawn today, and he was probably the reddest thing I’ve seen in a long time. We get them around here quite a bit; the habitat is right, with a fresh water supply and “edge” things, like bushes and windbreaks. At least that’s what I’ve heard they like, but bird people please, correct me if I’m wrong. It’s true that they’re particularly noticeable in the winter when they stand out against the snow, but this winter? No snow, not really. Actually, not any, now that I think about it. But the cardinals, they were there.
Apparently when I was a little girl, around four or five or so, I saw a drab, grey bird and asked my mother what it was. She said it was a cardinal, and I said (rightly so, I might add) that it must be the mommy. When my mother asked why I thought so I told her, “It’s because she’s wearing lipstick!” Female cardinals are notoriously dingy and lack any sort of distinctive markings, except for their very bright, very orangey-red beaks. It pays to notice the small things.
Many thanks to beauty-animal.blogspot.com for having exactly the picture I need.
I’ve seen a white version of a cardinal in the backyard. Maybe an albino? It looks just like a cardinal, except it doesn’t have the coloring of a male or female cardinal.
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There apparently is such a thing as an albino cardinal, which I didn’t know until now. Did what you saw look like this? http://www.flickr.com/photos/gary_sellers/6307510470/
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Yes, it did. Although with slightly less pinkish feathers in the chest area. I’ll have to get out my camera next time and hope to catch it.
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That would be cool! Let me know if you do get a picture, I’d love to see it.
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So very, very true. 😉
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