Something New

I have a row of Bradford Pear trees separating the lawn from the wooded area in my back yard.  I am aware that these trees are no longer favored, and are considered undesirable and invasive.  I wouldn't plant one now, but they do serve a good purpose in their current location.  They have white flowers that attract bees in early spring, but I never paid attention to the fruit.  Until today, when I took this photo of a cardinal in the distance.  When I got it up on the screen I saw that he was eating the fruit.  Apparently, this is one of the problems with the trees.  After a frost, the fruit softens and becomes attractive to birds.  The birds then scatter the seeds in their droppings, leading to the uncontrolled spread of the tree.  Interesting ....