Friday, December 12, 2008

Go Away, Don't Bother Me

Sound familiar? Men say this to women, women say this to men. Parents say this to kids, kids say it to parents. Whoever is saying it at the time, it usually only means that you shouldn’t bother them for a short time. Men, while they’re watching the game. Women while they’re trying to get all the things done that nobody else is doing. Kids, when they reach a certain age, all the time period, unless they’re hungry. And when these kids get to be adults, although they might not say it out loud, you know they’re still thinking it.

But this guy says it all winter long. And he means it. Don’t bother me. Don’t come near me. Don’t even be in the same yard that I’m in. From October till April it’s “get away from me, I don’t want you anywhere near me, and don’t even think you’re going to land on that feeder when I’m around”.


And who’s he treating this way?


Yep, the love of his life. Well, summer life anyhow. The one that, come April, he’s wooing and cooing, telling her how pretty she is, giving her the food right out of his mouth, and trying to get all cozy and sweet with. Serenading her with songs of love and togetherness. Trying to show her how thoughtful he is by helping her build a strong nest. Zooming in to protect and defend her from another male who makes a mistake and comes within a hundred yards of her. Trying to make up for the nasty, selfish attitude that he had for all those months.

And wouldn’t you know, she falls for it every time. Or does she? Is she just pretending to forgive him for the way he treated her? I’ve seen her sitting on the feeder eating but still demanding that he feed her too. I’ve heard her when she’s sitting on the nest, letting out a squawk just so that he’ll come running…er flying over…to save her from some unseen danger. I’ve seen her taking a bath and preening her feathers while he frantically flies around trying to feed two squawking kids. So, did she really forgive him, or is she just thinking, “Ok buddy, it’s payback time”.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a cute post and great pictures. Nalley has a saying that he teases me with if I interrupt a ball game: "Women, can't live with them, can't shoot them!!!"

flydragon said...

Mildred,
LOL, I'm glad Nally feels that way about it, aren't you:)

Roses and Lilacs said...

I've noticed what bullies they become in the cold months. I do love the way they sing to me. Even when it is still dark, they are making little chirps and tweets to tell they are so excited about getting breakfast.
Marnie

flydragon said...

Marnie,
They are the first ones in the morning to visit the feeder and the last ones that come by for a snack at dark. Just not together in the winter:)

Anonymous said...

I thought for a moment you had the scope on Conrad, but when you said he waited on her hand and foot in the spring I knew it wasn't hin you were writing about. Cardinals are sure pretty this time of year, up against that beautiful?????snow. Middle sis

Rudee said...

Ah yes-the critters are interesting around here too. I wish I could see this act in person:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB8UodV_DJg

especially the part a little past 2 minutes into the clip. if only the men in my life went to this much trouble to please a gal.

Dog_geek said...

I almost didn't click on your post when I saw the title... I figured maybe you were having a bad day! I'm glad that it's the cardinal and not you, who wants everyone to leave you alone!

flydragon said...

Betty,
Awwww is Conrad ignoring you again. Maybe you should try hitting him in the head with a little radio again. I still laugh out loud when I think of that one.
You have snow? We don't.

Rudee,
What a great clip. Sure is a big "song & dance" trying to win a gal over. And all for nothing too:) No men doing that in your front yard?

flydragon said...

DG,
Yeah right. If for one minute you really thought it was me that wanted to be alone, you wouldn't be able to get over here fast enough so you could be the first one to bother me. We both know that.

Susie said...

I think she's thinking, "Ha, got him tied around my little finger!" Or would that be, little claw, or little tail feathers? Whichever, she's pretty dang smart.

Anonymous said...

Thought I read somewhere that male cardinals are husband/father to many females at the same time. If true, kind of throws all these comments out the window, don't you think? And it seems I've seen more than one female around one male in the spring. Oh, yeah, we know that story! Or maybe it's the other way
around.

SisterNan

flydragon said...

Susie,
In the spring/summer she sure makes up for all the abuse she took during the winter:)

Nan,
I'm pretty sure this is the same pair every year because they never leave and always build their nest in the same part of the yard. Could be that male cardinals have more than one mate, but I've never seen him with any other. Maybe he figures one female driving him crazy is enough:)

One Hypo said...

I love their music but sometimes they get a little carried away. Some mornings were meant for sleep.

beckie said...

Males! What a pain in the butt they can be no matter the species.

I would hope that she is paying him back-not that I have v=ever resorted to doing that!

flydragon said...

Hi One Hypo,
You're right about the singing especially in the summer. They're out there chirping away at 5:00 a.m. And that chirping is really loud when they're right by the bedroom window. Many a times I've yelled out "Shut up already and go back to bed"

flydragon said...

beckie,
You got that right!!

Of course you and I have never resorted to using paybacks. We're much too sweet for that.

Rose said...

This is such a funny post! I haven't noticed this behavior in the winter, but I'll watch for it. This summer, though, my cardinal couples looked like honeymooners:)

Thanks for visiting my blog; I left a comment there, but thought I'd stop by and add to it. Now I remember the story about your daughters, including the one in Arizona! The past several weeks have been busy for me, and I've gotten behind in blog reading. I'm going to add you to my blogroll, so I don't forget to come back:)

Anna Lefler said...

I love this! I'm glad to know that game-playing occurs across species lines.

Not that any of us humans would ever stoop to that...tee hee

Have a great weekend!

:^) Anna

Far Side of Fifty said...

Maybe they are just pretending..you know like teenagers! :)

TC said...

I know of at least one Kentucky man who's very similar in methodology with women as that Kentucky state bird (the Cardinal) is to his mate.

oldcrow61 said...

A wonderful story.

flydragon said...

Hi Rose,
Honeymooners in the summer, bickering couple headed for divorce in the winter:)

Anna,
I'm not quite sure if humans picked up that trait from animals or vice versa. Excluding you and me of course.

farside,
Not just teenagers from what I've seen:)

TC,
I didn't know you were from Kentucky before you moved to PA.

Oldcrow,
And surprisingly, it's true.

RURAL said...

Great post, especially the part about payback. LOL.

Jen

flydragon said...

Jen,
And we know that paybacks are not something that you do, right? Except that I seem to remember reading something about using really smelly fertilizer on your outside plants when you had lousy neighbors:)