Bird Watching: Cardinal Family, 1 by minnesippi

minnesippi wrote:
Noticed about a week and a half ago, male & female cardinals in and out of our pine. Took a peek and saw a nest with 3 eggs. OOHH!! So excited! Two days later, one had hatched. On the "third" day, another hatched. The third egg disappeared...not sure where it went. Over the last week, the nest had tipped over and the two babies had fallen to the ground. I didn't want my dogs or cats to get them so I put them back in the nest. Mom & Dad returned. I breathed easy. The next morning, I noticed Dad under the pine. I walked over there and again, both babies on the ground and the nest was again falling out of the tree. I took the nest out the rest of the way, put the babies back in, and placed it back in the tree. Mom & Dad watching closely, and returned again. I have put this nest and babies back in this tree 7 times this week. Finally, because I knew the nest would not stay in the tree, I fashioned a hammock out of a wash cloth and clothes pins under the nest to support it. Two days now and it has stayed in the tree. Mom and dad continue to come back, babies continue to grow in the nest. I can't wait until they are big enough to venture out safely.