NY HDRs

The Cardinal Chronicles Continue

The babies are getting bigger......

They've been hanging out in the lime tree for the past couple of days.....

But just now one of them wandered from the protection of the lime tree into the pool area. Mom and dad are pissed!!!!

The Babies Have Flown the Coupe

After work I went to photograph the babies and it seems that they were in the process of flying the coupe. The runt was the only one left. When it saw me it hopped out of the net and into the lime tree. Once I realized what was going on I left them alone .... So no new pictures.

When I drove down the driveway upon returning from work, the father cardinal was hoping across trying to catch a grass hopper. Just about when the bird snapped up the bug it would hop off. The cardinal would leap after it ... I think the bug escaped behind the shed. At that point the female followed. They were both hunting for their young.

Bug Eyed Baby

We have baby cardinals in the lime tree!

I discovered the nest a couple of weeks ago while doing my daily watering. I think the babies hatched about week ago. She has three babies.

Some interesting information ....

The female builds the nest while the male keeps a close eye on her and the surrounding territory for predators and other males. The female will be the only one incubating the eggs.
The males duty during this time is to feed her on the nest and protect their territory from intruders.
Once the young hatch, both will feed them. Two broods each season are attempted. The nest is made up of twigs, bark strips, vines leaves, rootlets, paper, and lined with vines, grass and hair.
You can find the nest placed in dense shrubbery or among branches of small trees. Generally 1-15 feet above ground.
Laying 2-5 eggs that are buff-white with dark marks. The female incubates the eggs for 12- 13 days and the young leave the nest in 9-11 days after hatching.

New buzz at the Big Build

A shot of one of the many hummingbirds that frequent the Big Build.