Click on the little pictures to see the bigger versions

Day 1, the hatching

     

Day 3


       

Day 5: The Unwanted Visitor, who took a babe


   

Day 6: preparing for the unwanted visitor's next visit


    Design inspired by Melissa

Day 7: Feed Me


   

Day 8: Momma


Day 10


Peeking from the nest     Dog barrier, inspired by a website sent to me by Marnie
Where's dinner?
Momma

Day 11: Leaving the nest



Looking for dad, What'ja bring me? Dad is that red area to the right in the photo


Yum, thank's daddy. Have you seen my nestmate, by the way?


Dad looking for babe who left the nest


First fledgling to leave the nest


I'm a big boy/girl now!


Now, where is that little tyke?


Momma thinks, I know s/he's in that bush, I'll just watch from here.

Visiting Woodpecker

No photo available, fledgling #1 has left the protected area. S/HE FLEW to a nearby hedge with momma right behind him/her!!!

YAY Baby, have a great flight!

Fledgling #1 has not been seen since approx 10 am June 9.


Fledge #2 got on the edge of the nest around noon, but went back into the nest and took a nap...At 2:24 p.m. after being well rested, Fledge #2 got out of that nest! Mom and Dad were here for the event. At 2:29 p.m. Fledgling #2 flew/fell toward the hedge. S/he landed on the ground in the yard, so I closed the doggie door.


Mom coaching Fledge #2 who is somewhere in the coleus. At 2:45 Mom and Dad both came back to the empty nest with food, one more time (just in case someone was still there!)

Day 35: A family is spotted

An adult male and two baby females were spotted in yard. The females still have black beaks.

A bit of info that was sent to me by Stephanie:

The female builds a cup nest in a well-concealed spot in dense shrub or a low tree. Nests are usually completed in 4 to 9 days; and the first egg is laid within 5 or 6 days after the nest was finished.

The cardinal lays from two to five eggs. Incubation is performed normally by the female, but the male has been seen occasionally sitting on the nest for short periods.

The young remain in the nest normally for 9 or 10 days. They are capable of strong flight by the age of about 19 days, partial independence at about 38 days, complete independence at 45 days, and severance of family ties at 56 to 59 days.

Three or four broods of young are often raised in a season. "Four nestings in a season are not uncommon." Both male and female feed the young. Young fledged cardinals resemble adult females in coloring. The male will grow in bright red feathers as he matures and is eventually chased away by his father. Brighter red males hold territories with denser vegetation, feed at higher rates, and have greater reproductive success than duller males.