Just outside the front window in a shrub, a mother Cardinal raised her 3 little baby birds. It was easy to tell when Mama and Papa were feeding from the peep peep peeping. Finally, they began fledging, one by one. No more in the nest now. I hope they all do well.
I was taking pictures from the window and the sun was shining in...but you can see the outline of the second little brave one, out on the limb and away from the nest in the darkest thicket part...
This one made it's way around the house to the side where there are lots of trees and shrubs, but when I went looking, it panicked and jumped down into the grass, peeping like crazy for Mama!! She was there - and so was Papa - keeping watch the trying to lure me away from the little one. I walked away and it was soon back in the trees.
At this time of year, you can hear babies calling for food constantly throughout the trees around the neighborhood!
It's odd, but I never see a baby cardinal at the feeders - lots of others being fed by Mama and Papa from the suet and seed I put out - but never any cardinals. Wonder where they go and do they begin to eat worms right away and insects instead of seed?
6 comments:
Nature's art is so much more beautiful than anything I could ever conceive! Thanks for sharing this special moment in time, Rhonda!
I miss the little peeps outside the window...wonder how they are doing.
Ya know RH, just yesterday I was wondering the exact same thing. I've been watching all the others bring their babies to the feeders but I have never seen a cardinal bring theirs. If you find out the answer, let me know.
EM, here is something I found on the site Birds101.com. I didn't know this so am glad to find out - they don't eat or aren't fed seeds until later: BREED BETWEEN APRIL - SEPTEMBER; FEMALE LAYS 3-4 EGGS AND INCUBATES THEM WHILE THE MALE FEEDS THE FEMALE ON THE NEST; BABIES CAN FLY AT 9-10 DAYS AND LEAVE THE NEST WHERE THE MALE THEN FEEDS THEM INSECTS FOR 3 WEEKS WHILE THE FEMALE PREPARES A 2ND BROOD!
Wow. Thank you for telling me that. I had no idea. I just figured if the parents eat seed ... I'm bookmarking that site. Thanks so much.
I've seen robins, and baby cardinals off in the shrubs and trees while the parents are at a feeder. The baby robins will go out in the open, but not the cardinals I've seen.
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