One Very Disturbed Cardinal

This morning at work i was watching him trying to peck his way into a coworkers newly leased car.
Window, mirror, door- back and forth for 10 minutes......

When i told the coworker about the bird and his car, he became pretty distraught as well as another employee. Apparently this little guy in the past few years has destroyed a mirror, lots of paint, and left a bunch of S*** on a few peoples cars/trucks.

Im hoping to get a vid of him before they get their hands on him.

The Cardinals are pecking at their reflection. This is another hormone-driven behavior. Every spring through early summer I have to clean their droppings from my truck mirrors and doors below them. When I visit the state park here they'll start before I even get my gear out. Other than the mess the birds have never done any harm to my mirrors or paint.

We have a male bluebird that is OCD about checking himself out in all the car mirrors and windows that he can see himself in.

For the past two years I've been making photographs of a Northern Parula that is fierce to defend his territory by attacking car mirrors and windows. Hoping to see him again in the next few weeks.

I never knew up untill today that other then a catbird (theyll attack anything) other birds attacked mirrors and windows to protect their territory. This could be a interesting thing with my new lens coming....

If you play it right, it can be a good opportunity to make a nice image.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Tell them to put a cloth over their side mirrors, when they leave their cars. A PITA but, that should help.

Crimzon wrote in post #14175574
Tell them to put a cloth over their side mirrors, when they leave their cars. A PITA but, that should help.

One of the ladies that works here suggested that. Or to move his car to a new assigned spot.

I do have to say the crap he will get from the coworkers for needing a new assigned spot from being picked on/harrased by a bird..... wow, grade school all over again!!!!

At this point i feel the need to say i am not a animal rights activist
Nor one that agrees with killing it or causing it pain of any kind for doing what nature taught it to do.


btw, kevin, nice pic!!!!!

Funny you bring this up...a few years ago I had a male Cardinal doing the same thing but not only would he attack his reflection on my truck mirrors but also the front windows in my home...I happened to get video of him doing it one day.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=hdXjZr_9EbY

This year I have a Robin doing the same thing on the same front windows but I put white paper over them and he has stopped doing it thankfully.

They will land on that mirror and attack. Sooooo, if you offer them a nice perch to sit on nearby that is a little higher than the mirror (a position of dominance from which they can sing their territorial song) they may opt to defend territory a bit less aggressively.

3 possible wins: they won't stop attacking the mirrors but they may not attack them as much, your bird will still be feisty but may be able to settle down a notch or two, you may be able to come away with your shot.