Giving Someone The Eye

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Male Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, in Central Park during moult.

Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [wallpaper size].

More about this image below the fold.

The photographer writes: I'm not sure how to file this particular photo. Does it go in the "almost-too-cute-for-words" file or the "evil eye" file?

The adult male striking this provocative pose is one I call "Papa Meadow" because the center of his territory is the Maintenance Meadow in Central Park. Here he seems to be giving me an uncharacteristically intense glare more suited to a raptor than a songbird. The motivation behind it is not a mystery. I confess it had everything to do with the peanut I held up for him between two fingers on my left hand while my left hand pressed the shutter button.

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Hey Dev.

Haven't visited in a while. Hope you're hanging in there.

I grew up in Dallas Tex, where many "Red Birds" roost. My next-door neighbor had a bird feeder in her kitchen window, and I was always welcome to come over and watch the little things come by for a snack. Cardinals were the wild birds that most caught my fancy; thirty years later I still do a pretty good Cardinal song whistle.

PS. Miss Bird, the very talkative Black Cap, is doing great... except for her choice of fashion as of late. She has adopted the bald look this year. We're pretty sure it's hormonal and she'll grow out of it in time.

PPS. Have some great video of a Mockingbird harassing a cat on my blog. Come visit some time.