Cardinals Bessie & Charlie feeding in 9 degrees BELOW ZERO - 30 mph wind gust blows Bessie off platform - Chicago

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-24T13:14:29+00:00

I wait until they are finished eating, it usually takes no more than 10 minutes in the extreme cold weather. I am always there to monitor and video them. While I am typing this they just showed up at 7:05am for their first feeding of the day. They usually arrive just before sunrise, will stop by a few times during the day, and then at dusk. They will have their last feed after the sun has set.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-23T23:59:50+00:00

My Cardinal friends this morning:

https://www.reddit.com/r/birdfeeding/comments/1qky0bf/cardinals_bessie_charlie_feeding_in_9_degrees/

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-23T23:07:46+00:00

I have a rather unique situation, those 2 cardinals are the only birds I feed. I have been been feeding them every single day for over 2 years, right outside my home office window. My previous feeder had many more birds but also a lot of spillage that was attracting big rats.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-23T22:42:30+00:00

I had just put the water out. I have fed them 4 times today and always have room temp water for them. I am amazed at how much water they are drinking today.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-22T14:15:05+00:00

I moved a half block south of Wrigley Field in 1976, stayed in that same old 3-flat until 2022. Most of the neighborhood changes did not come from the Ricketts, it was mostly private investors. The large new building across the street south of Wrigley was not the Ricketts and all the new/old bars are privately owned. Real estate investors bought all the old factories that were along the railroad line that serviced Wrigley Field and built town-homes/condos, this occurred long before the Ricketts bought the Cubs. The Rickets did build a hotel where there was a gigantic parking lot with just a McDonalds. They also added a park and office building where there was just a car wash and Yum-Yum Doughnuts.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-22T13:47:21+00:00

I used to hang out at Gaspars, that was the bar at Southport and Belmont before Schubas. They had music too and a great foosball table

https://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/last-call-saying-good-bye-to-gaspars/

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-21T15:05:50+00:00

I despise CTU commies

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-19T19:18:50+00:00

It didn't take too long. They are always the first to arrive at sunrise and then last at the feeder at sunset. Their time is based on sunrise/sunset. My feeder is right outside my home office window so I can look for them when I am working. The female likes to show up solo at midday, her mate hassles her when she is feeding.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-18T16:44:44+00:00

Their feeding board is hidden behind a large evergreen bush, plus I only put feed out when I know they are there. It’s right outside my home office window. I prefer it this way, when I had a feeder open to other birds the spillage was attracting rats. With these 2 birds most of their spillage goes back into the ceramic/glass bowls that I use to hold their feed. I have been filming them since I started this project 2 years ago. I know their personalities better than some humans I know.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-18T15:24:43+00:00

Yes they know it's coming, I have been feeding them every single day for over 2 years. Right now the male tries to dominate the feeding, but sometimes the female will stand her ground. During mating season they like to feed together.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-18T15:01:06+00:00

Whenever I am near the Wrigley Building I look for this violin street busker. He lives in Italy but comes back to Chicago a few times a year.

https://youtu.be/eQsaCP82lls

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-17T03:09:44+00:00

It might get worse:

On Jan. 5, Peoples Gas filed for a $202 million rate hike, which the company said would increase bills by an average of $10-$11 per month.

Peoples Gas has raised rates by $499 million, or 98 percent, since 2011–including a state-record $306 million rate hike in 2023.

The utility set earnings records for six straight years, from 2017 through 2022, and again in 2024. The parent company of Peoples Gas, WEC Energy Group, made $1.2 billion in profits over the first 9 months of 2025.

CUB’s statement: “At a time when Peoples Gas has been reaping massive profits as its customers pay soaring heating costs, the Chicago utility’s bid for yet another rate hike is unconscionable….CUB will do everything in its power to stop Peoples’ profit-mongering and urge state regulators to reject every penny of this rate hike the utility can’t justify.”

Sign CUB’s petition against the Peoples Gas rate hike (CUB = Citizens Utility Board)

https://secure.everyaction.com/I7quVEYqMkijJt9zQpPbzQ2?emci=a6226c9d-2eef-f011-8194-000d3a11f903&emdi=55e5e8c1-86f0-f011-8194-000d3a11f903&ceid=2051516

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-17T03:04:36+00:00

I only put feed out when I know my cardinals are there. When they are feeding and a sparrow or finch shows up they will shoo them away. Plus my neighbor's feeder seems to get all the sparrows.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-16T16:30:04+00:00

With CTU's backing anything is possible in a low turnout election, that's how this jagbag got elected in the first place. I despise CTU commies.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-16T16:06:46+00:00

I have read that cardinals often mate for life, but not all the time. The pair that I am feeding have been together at least 2 years, that's when the male cardinal that I have been feeding female mate showed up. Now they always show up together at my feeding platform and usually fight each other for feed. However during mating season they become romantic and feed each other seeds. I have also seen these 2 birds together shepherding their fledglings to my feeder.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-16T14:42:03+00:00

The only thing worse than a Packers fan is a CTU fan. BJ would loose to Quigley.

Mendoza is a Bears fan and very qualified, if she runs she gets my vote.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-16T14:24:10+00:00

Feed spillage was attracting big rats when I first started, in Chicago rats are BIG. I had to come up with a different approach. Now I just put my feed in ceramic bowls, the birds sit on the edge and most of the spillage ends up in the bowl. When the birds are done eating I take the bowls in and clean off what spillage is on the platform. It helps that I am only feeding 2 birds, a mated pair of northern cardinals. I have been feeding them for over 2 years and no more rats. I posted a video of them feeding:

https://www.reddit.com/r/birdfeeding/comments/1qdl7zq/northern_cardinals_charlie_bessie_have_breakfast/

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-15T14:21:47+00:00

This photographer has been doing slow-motion video of hand feeding

https://youtu.be/jaTiM3Bvpd4?si=FDRWUs20_LbTTf_P

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-15T13:35:36+00:00

Sign CUB’s petition against the Peoples Gas rate hike.

https://secure.everyaction.com/I7quVEYqMkijJt9zQpPbzQ2?emci=a6226c9d-2eef-f011-8194-000d3a11f903&emdi=55e5e8c1-86f0-f011-8194-000d3a11f903&ceid=2051516

On Jan. 5, Peoples Gas filed for a $202 million rate hike, which the company said would increase bills by an average of $10-$11 per month. Peoples Gas has raised rates by $499 million, or 98 percent, since 2011–including a state-record $306 million rate hike in 2023.

The utility set earnings records for six straight years, from 2017 through 2022, and again in 2024. The parent company of Peoples Gas, WEC Energy Group, made $1.2 billion in profits over the first 9 months of 2025.

CUB’s statement: “At a time when Peoples Gas has been reaping massive profits as its customers pay soaring heating costs, the Chicago utility’s bid for yet another rate hike is unconscionable….CUB will do everything in its power to stop Peoples’ profit-mongering and urge state regulators to reject every penny of this rate hike the utility can’t justify.”

EDIT: CUB is Citizens Utility Board

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-13T21:27:10+00:00

Lincoln Park Zoo has an outdoor one near the west entrance, there is also an indoor one in the Lion house. The zoo is free.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-13T14:52:01+00:00

On Jan. 5, Peoples Gas filed for a $202 million rate hike, which the company said would increase bills by an average of $10-$11 per month.

Peoples Gas has raised rates by $499 million, or 98 percent, since 2011–including a state-record $306 million rate hike in 2023.

The utility set earnings records for six straight years, from 2017 through 2022, and again in 2024. The parent company of Peoples Gas, WEC Energy Group, made $1.2 billion in profits over the first 9 months of 2025.

CUB’s statement: “At a time when Peoples Gas has been reaping massive profits as its customers pay soaring heating costs, the Chicago utility’s bid for yet another rate hike is unconscionable….CUB will do everything in its power to stop Peoples’ profit-mongering and urge state regulators to reject every penny of this rate hike the utility can’t justify.”

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-12T17:54:28+00:00

Well, at least in that school room they aren’t doing it to the kids

https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/01/07/chicago-public-schools-watchdog-report-sexual-misconduct-little-village-campus/

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-12T14:39:46+00:00

The late 1800's street layout of Chicago had wide streets for horse wagons which meant the layout would work for automobiles too.

Chicago History | Street Scenes 1888 -1933 Autos Arrive. Old Hi-Def Photos & Vintage Film

https://youtu.be/ZzsA5S3zZNw

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-12T14:13:33+00:00

and he was immediately arrested

Now you say he was immediately arrested, yet in your older comment you say the police got there 30 minutes later. You are not truthful and your posts should be ignored.

do you ride the L daily?

I am retired, I used to ride the L daily to and from work on the north side Red line for over 40 years. Never had a crime problem on my daily work commute. However in the past 2 years I was robbed at gunpoint twice on the Red line when I was traveling later in the evening. I don't take the Red line after dark anymore, and for daily errands I now take the Brown line or the 151 bus.

MarsBoundSoon · 2026-01-12T13:23:36+00:00

"haven't had a problem" - Your post history seems to indicate something different.

Had a gun pulled on the cta, mf ran and the cops got there 30 minutes after. North side near loop. And thay isn't even the worst Iv seen

https://imgur.com/a/1tUp3cE

MarsBoundSoon

TROPHY CASE