The backyard cast
Every member of this crew is a real backyard visitor. Their personalities may have been slightly enhanced by a dad with too much time to observe them.
First, the cardinals
Two familiar visitors kept returning, and eventually “the male cardinal” and “the female cardinal” felt far too formal for animals eating at our house.
Larry is bright red, dramatic, and fully convinced the feeder is part of his personal estate. He puffs up, gives the camera a look, and carries himself like a bird who has already contacted management.
Linda is quieter, watchful, and usually looks like she already knows what Larry did. She brings the calm energy right up until somebody gets too close to breakfast.
The supporting cast
The backyard keeps adding characters. Some fly in. Some climb in. Some can fit an alarming number of peanuts in their face.
They study every feeder like an engineering problem and treat “squirrel proof” as a personal challenge. Confidence: unlimited. Respect for property lines: still under review.
A chipmunk can arrive looking innocent and leave carrying half the snack aisle. They move fast, pose briefly, and always seem late for a meeting underground.
Finches, grackles, cowbirds, nuthatches, grosbeaks, and whoever else heard the feeder was open. Some stay long enough for a name. Others grab a seed and avoid the paperwork.
Cats, chickens, frogs, bees, butterflies, dragonflies, spiders, and the occasional creature I have to identify after taking the picture. The backyard has no casting director.
Watch the story continue
That’s where Larry’s latest crisis, Linda’s side-eye, feeder negotiations, and the rest of the backyard chaos show up first.
