Allowing Need to Birth Bravery

I remember one late February several years ago when I noticed our neighborhood cardinals needed an ice storm to bring out their bravery. I usually see them feeding only on the ground under my backyard feeder, but since ice covered the fallen birdseed that winter day, they were forced to take drastic action. They had to brave the feeder’s little ledges.

Cardinals have trouble balancing on such tiny ledges. It’s easier and safer for them to scavenge for food that drifts to the ground while smaller...