afraser's Identifications

Commensalism: Northern cardinal, tree, and bush

• Trees provide a location safe, view, and high up from ground predators, protected by branches and twigs. A male (pictured) and female flew into a dense low ground evergreen shrub after looking at me from various angles in the shown short tree, flicking its tail, and jumping between branches. The tree and shrub are neither harmed nor benefited from the cardinals using them for protection, illustrating commensalism.
• A bird or mammal nest was also within the branches and near the top of thebarren tree. It appears to be a cup nest with thick twigs (approx. 8 inches). It is not clear what bird species created the nest structure and which if any have used it. There are often nearby cardinals, American robins, blue jays, and house sparrows.