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In My Oak Tree
self | Feb 23,2008 | swampsniper

Posted on 02/23/2008 4:54:38 PM PST by SWAMPSNIPER

Back in 1989 a friend was putting in a driveway. There was an Oak sapling in the way. I chopped around the roots with my machete, brought it home and stuck it in the ground. It never shed a leaf, I can't get my arms around it now. In warm weather I just about live under it, and the critters like it too. I caught these shots from my porch steps this afternoon. Boss Cardinal was calling his mate.

Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Chit/Chat; Hobbies; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: bird; cardinal; florida
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Swamper that slide show on Cabbage Hammock is real neat.


21 posted on 02/23/2008 10:56:49 PM PST by Tainan (Talk is cheap. Silence is golden. All I got is brass...lotsa brass.)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

What a beautiful bird!

And, such good pics of him, too.

Out my wayward way, I don’t get to see Cardinals...my favorite bird.

Did his mate show up?

I’d love to see a white oak tree again, too.


22 posted on 02/23/2008 11:29:10 PM PST by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Great pics, as always.

You are so right. I grew up on a farm, and you can learn so much from the animals. Kids in this day and time don’t have time to just sit and watch. For instance, I knew long before I could read that a dog’s tongue curled backwards when they were drinking. According to the books, humans can’t see that motion because it’s too fast. Whodathunkit? If you don’t make those connections when you’re young, you probably never will.

Love trees, too. we’re surrounded by pine trees. When we built our house, the power co wanted to cut down the only white oak on the property to put in lines. I told them no—go in another direction and cut down a damned pine tree. They fianlly did, and I’m so glad. That oak, like yours, is a beautiful tree.


23 posted on 02/24/2008 5:37:03 AM PST by gardengirl
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

I love Cardinals. Thanks for sharing!

Mark


24 posted on 02/24/2008 6:20:26 AM PST by MarkL
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
Excellent pictures.

We're loaded with robins in Mobile this week.

25 posted on 02/24/2008 6:31:27 AM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: Understated

Look


26 posted on 02/24/2008 6:40:22 AM PST by DeLaine
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To: do not press 2 for spanish
“A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they shall never sit.”

Saved it to my quotes.

27 posted on 02/24/2008 10:17:59 AM PST by lonestar
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
Several years ago I was watching 2 cardinals pecking around on the ground. All of a sudden he hopped over to her, she opened her beak and he put something in it.

I think it was a cardinal's version of CHOCOLATE... was too cute ...and worth remembering.

28 posted on 02/24/2008 10:23:29 AM PST by lonestar
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Lovely as always swampsniper. I live in a hardwood forest. Unfortunately something went through here a few years ago and all my red oaks are dying or dead. I have one red oak that has a pileated woodpecker home wwwaaaaaayyyyyy up in the top. I found it when I heard an odd sound and sat still long enough to look for its source. I saw a baby with his head sticking out the hole practicing drumming on the side.


29 posted on 02/24/2008 5:03:31 PM PST by Grammy
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To: lonestar; Diana in Wisconsin

I’ve been using that quote for my personal and corporate email tagline, for years. It’s a great one, when thought through.


30 posted on 02/24/2008 7:12:05 PM PST by do not press 2 for spanish
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
It's difficult to tell from the photos--do you happen to know if that cardinal has only one leg?

Where I grew up (Rochester, MI) we had a mated pair of cards living in our backyard, non-stop, year-round, for three years. The male, who we called "Hook," had only one leg. If we let the feeder stand empty for more than two days, he would hop across our deck to our sliding door and yell at us.

There are several male cards that have been hanging out at my feeder this winter, and I'm fairly certain one of them is one legged.

Have you ever seen this before?

31 posted on 02/25/2008 7:36:25 AM PST by grellis ("Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all.” —Ronald Reagan)
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