The intruder

For the past several days, a beautiful male Cardinal has been protecting his turf around the house from an intruder.  No, the intruder isn't the two barn cats, nor the Redtail and Cooper Hawks that soar over the fields.

Mr. Cardinal sits atop the shepherd's crook holding a blooming petunia just off the corner of the front porch and sings at the top of his voice, his repetitive song/warning, then flies to land on either of the two sideview mirrors of hubby's SUV to repeat the warning.  He will lean over the mirror, flutter to the window frame and attack the intruder again and again, but he just won't leave his turf.

Cardinals may be beautiful, but not bright.  The intruder is his own image in the mirror.