Grapey Cardinals

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis

  While on a brisk walk through a nearby NDG locale to investigate a long-simmering avian mystery, I was pleasantly surprised to find the mother lode of Northern Cardinals. At least ten (!) were seen cavorting through an area choked with grape vines, feeding and vocalizing. They weren't really acting drunk - perhaps cardinals hold their liquor better than squirrels (I believe there's a Buddhist proverb that goes something like that). Several American Robins were also seen joining in on the grapey Saturnalia.