Cardinal Family

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.

"day three"

Daddy

Mommy

Mommy (with picture)

Very Cool, minnesippi!!

Quick thinking on your part to save the little ones and also strengthen the nest. I'm sure Mom & Dad appreciate your efforts & concern for their babies.

You are to be commended for your efforts to save this nest. Having those cardinals around will be worth the effort.

This is wonderful, minnesippi. Congratulations on the successful intervention. I look forward to updates.

initially, I was worried M&D wouldn't come back - I was prepared to raise them as fosters. I am very glad M&D didn't abandon them. I hope they "remember" me and stick around for years to come.

Minnesippi,
If they like your yard enough to nest then they'll most likely stay. Cardinals tend to stay year 'round when they find a place they like. We have lots of Cardinals here all year & it's a wonderful treat.

Your babies should fledge within two weeks, but will still rely on Mom & Dad for a while.

Although we see Cardinals all day long, the largest groups of them occur at dawn & dusk. Sometimes its incredible how many there are.

Enjoy the new family & please send more pictures if you can!

I check on them at least twice a day. Daddy is starting to come closer to me every time I do it. He hollers at me at first, then just watches me.
I will continue to take pics and send updates. :)

Here is a pic from tonight. Not a real good shot, but considering I was 2 feet away with the telephoto lens...:)

And proud mommy

Almost forgot - here is my "hammock" under the nest

lovely Did you charge a construction fee?

not this time...

Adorable pics!

Love the "Hammock". This could become a new decorating fashion accessory. "Nest-Building 101"...

It's wonderful seeing this. This all made me smile after kind of a rough day.

We have a cardinal couple and suspect which tree they are nesting in, but haven't seen babies yet. In spite of all the grackles, I've been putting out a little food for them everyday in case they need it. Mr. has been coming by, but haven't seen the Mrs. up close since earlier this spring.

We have several juvies already, but I haven't spotted any nests yet. There are so many large trees all around here that it's sometimes hard to pinpoint the nests. I love watching the babies, though & usually a Mommy or Daddy is right nearby keeping an eye on them.

This afternoon I watched a baby running all around picking up safflower & sunflower seeds on the ground while Dad crouched low in the grass & watched.

Your babies look to be growing quickly. Before you know it they'll be out of the nest, thanks to your help!

Sad update...one of the babies made it out of the nest and over to the side of the yard on Saturday. My cat found it, then tag teamed with my dog to try and get after this baby. I managed to save baby from the mongrels, put it back in the tree and put up a fence surrounding the tree, giving the babies enough room to move around the tree and a good section of yard as well. Then my son & I went to Wally World. Got a phone call from my husband...the dog broke a hole in the fence and got one of the babies. It was laying dead in the mulch under the tree when I got home. :( No sign of the other baby or the parents since then. I am so very sad. The dog got a good scare from my husband. I gave baby a proper burial and pray I see the others soon.

I'm so sorry, minnesippi...

It's so hard, in nature. So many of the babies don't make it. You did every possible thing you could do to give them a fighting chance. I know it doesn't make it any easier.

I've experienced the pain over & over again of losing wild birds & animals...not just babies, but adults as well. I realize there's nothing any of us can say to make it easier for you.

Just know that anything you do to help those wild birds...a little bit of food...fixing a nest...growing plants that they like, will help so many more of them survive than would have survived without your help. It hurts to lose one, but maybe for every one lost ten more survived because of your help...or twenty...or thirty.

Please take care & don't be hard on yourself.

Thank you.
I hope I see them again soon. I am worried about them and just want to know they are okay.
A humming bird just buzzed me a few minutes ago so that made me smile.
I won't change what I am doing. Help any way I can. Feeding, planting, bringing to "rehab" if required. Glad there is one close to me.
This is my one true stress reliever..being in nature - with nature. I will do anything I can to help preserve it and help it flourish.

That's a wonderful attitude & I, too, am calmed by nature...no matter what's going on in my life. It also puts everything in perspective.

The other baby & its parents may be fine. It's possible the parents led the baby somewhere they felt to be a little safer. It doesn't mean they won't come back, though. They might even be nearby.

minnesippi, I so can relate with your feeling and being ... I'm so thankful there are people who care. Thanks for sharing and caring.