Bird Shenanigans...we are not so different

I was sitting out in the backyard with the dogs this morning trying to wake up and at least appear alert. I was watching Baker run around looking for a new escape route that might have somehow appeared overnight. Owen is just running around aimlessly trying to figure out what dogs do outside. Fiona is navigating her way across the yard to find a spot she can get stuck in. The usual morning exercise.

As I sat there trying to put together some form of coherent thought I heard a ruckus and looked around for it. It didn't take long. There was a full-on bird brawl in my back yard. The participants were 3 Cardinals. One male and two females. I watched trying to figure out just what the drama was about. They looked like young birds. At one point they took their brawl to the yard but I yelled...hey three dogs in the yard...you might want to move on...which they did ever so politely.

At some point I noticed the prime combatants were the two females. Well...one was aggressively after the other one. The male seemed to be just enjoying the brawl. Then it suddenly occurred to me. He was trying to corner one or both and have sex while the one female was trying to drive off the competition. Who knew birds had "that bitch is tryin' is trying to steal my man" moments?

So then I paid more attention to see what the fuss was about but ladies I didn't see the attraction. He wasn't a large and fluffy male Cardinal. He was a nice shade of red but nothing special. I think it was more like teen bird drama. So...I decided it must be that he is a "hot mess" and the girls want to fix him. I am not sure who won the battle but I would assume that determined female won because her aggression was something to behold. That girl was pissed! And I thought...wow...we are just really not so different. Hmmmm...who knew??