'They're such a beautiful bird': Rare cardinal spotted in western P.E.I.

A woman who put bird seed out in her yard in St. Chrysostome, in western P.E.I., was thrilled she ended up attracting a rare bird. Julia Kilbridesaid she screamed with excitement when she noticed the female northern cardinal in her backyard.

"There itis, a cardinal, I squealed so loud," Kilbride said.

"I ran across the house and was lucky enough to capture a photo just in time."

Kilbride spotted the bird Monday afternoon and shared the photo on Facebook and Twitter.

Kilbride said she was motivated to put bird seed out because of the harsh winter weather. She said she felt sorry for the birds and a squirrel around her yard. She says she is not an avid birder, but described the female cardinal as gorgeous.

"She has the tiniest bit of red on her mohawk and her wings," Kilbride said.

"I'm not a birder, I dream of being one."

'They are quite rare'

An Island birder confirms northern cardinals aren't commonon P.E.I.

"They are quite rare," said Dan MacAskill, who organizesbird counts on the Islandand isa co-ordinator forNature P.E.I.

"We're just at the outside edge of the range."

MacAskill said on P.E.I. it's definitely exciting when cardinals are spotted.

"They're such a beautiful bird," he said. "Anybody that gets to see one here, it's a treat, because they're so rare," he said.

Cardinals more common in recent years

MacAskill said in the last few months there have been about sevenor eightreported sightings of cardinals.

"The numbers have come up a little more over the last fiveor sixyears,"hesaid.

"Thirty years ago we might get oneor twoin the whole year."

He said usually therare birds don't stick around too long.

Hoping for more

Kilbrideis hoping the cardinal won't leave too quickly.

She reported another cardinal sighting on Wednesday and has picked up a couple of bird feeders inhopesthat might help keep the birdaround.

She said she's heard lots of feedback after posting her photo.

"It's been a good conversation of how much everybody wants to see one and dreams of seeing one."

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