2018_05 Cardinals nesting

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Our friend Joy Lovio noticed a pair of cardinals had built a nest in a bush right next to a window in our backyard, allowing us an unusual opportunity to view and photograph the events there.<br><br />Three eggs appeared after a few days, but only two are visible in this pic. We are not sure when the eggs were laid, so "Day N" info is mostly guesses.<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 1: Cardinal nest with eggs Our friend Joy Lovio noticed a pair of cardinals had built a nest in a bush right next to a window in our backyard, allowing us an unusual opportunity to view and photograph the events there. Three eggs appeared after a few days, but only two are visible in this pic. We are not sure when the eggs were laid, so "Day N" info is mostly guesses.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Momma doing her duty. Dad is around soomewhere, too.<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 3: Momma at work Momma doing her duty. Dad is around soomewhere, too.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />She has to take a break every now and then, but can't stay away very long.<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 5: Back after a quick outing for lunch She has to take a break every now and then, but can't stay away very long.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />It rained for two days straight and we never saw her leave the nest during that time.<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 6: Rain or shine, she never flags in her devotion It rained for two days straight and we never saw her leave the nest during that time.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />About 10 days later we get baby birds. Little pink featherless blobs are not much to look at, yet. Note that Day 9 refers to the day we first noticed the eggs in the nest, which must have been several days after they were laid, since the incubation period is about 12-13 days.<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 9: Hatchlings at last! About 10 days later we get baby birds. Little pink featherless blobs are not much to look at, yet. Note that Day 9 refers to the day we first noticed the eggs in the nest, which must have been several days after they were laid, since the incubation period is about 12-13 days.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Keeping the little ones warm is a challenge in cooler spring weather<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 9: Still lots of work to do for mom Keeping the little ones warm is a challenge in cooler spring weather

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />It seemed she was either feeding them or keeping them warm with little time away from the nest except to fill up again<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 10: Feeding the little ones keeps her busy, too It seemed she was either feeding them or keeping them warm with little time away from the nest except to fill up again

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />But he didn't seem to be quite as busy as mom. <br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 10: Dad does his part, too But he didn't seem to be quite as busy as mom.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Who could love these greedy little critters except mom and dad?<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 10: Are they ugly, or what? Who could love these greedy little critters except mom and dad?

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Never enough!<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 10: Feed me! Feed me! Never enough!

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Where's dad when we need him?<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 11: More! More! Where's dad when we need him?

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Now shuddup for a while, will ya?<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 11: OK, OK, here's some more! Now shuddup for a while, will ya?

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />He's attentive, but mom still appears to be doing the lion's share of this.<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 11: Finally, dad shows up! He's attentive, but mom still appears to be doing the lion's share of this.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Sharing a little more of the work with the older babies<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 11: Dad keeping busy doing his part Sharing a little more of the work with the older babies

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Mom is very reliable<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 13: Stalwart Mom patiently parenting Mom is very reliable

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Feathers becoming more defined<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 13: More development Feathers becoming more defined

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Poor mom!<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 13: More hungry! Poor mom!

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack-time, tea-time, dinner, late night snack, too<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 13: More! More! More! Breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack-time, tea-time, dinner, late night snack, too

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Note there is one egg that didn't hatch<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 14: Better than McDonald's Note there is one egg that didn't hatch

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Wings and body feathers more developed now<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 15: Growing fast Wings and body feathers more developed now

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Featherrs are filling out<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 17: Continued growth Featherrs are filling out

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Day before they took flight<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 18: Ready to go! Day before they took flight

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />About two feet (or less) from next. Can't keep eyes open for very long<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 19: First flight! About two feet (or less) from next. Can't keep eyes open for very long

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Still hungry, both parents continue to feed babies even after they are out of nest.<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 19: Don't stop feeding me now! Still hungry, both parents continue to feed babies even after they are out of nest.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br /><br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 19

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />Making sure junior finally gets out of basement and lives on his own<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 19: Dad watching fledgling Making sure junior finally gets out of basement and lives on his own

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />A little unsteady on its feet, fledgling getting its bearings before taking off<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 19: Almost free A little unsteady on its feet, fledgling getting its bearings before taking off

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />The last we saw of the little ones. Mom and Dad drop by the back yard occasionally but not for long.<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 19: Outta Here! The last we saw of the little ones. Mom and Dad drop by the back yard occasionally but not for long.

<p style="width: 20vw; word-wrap:break-word; font-size:1vw; line-height: 1.5"><br />One egg didn't hatch and remained unattended, barely visible in this last pic<br /><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Day 20: Then they were gone One egg didn't hatch and remained unattended, barely visible in this last pic