Nesting Cardinals #1
Jul 31, 2018 06:24:34 #
On the morning of July 4th while sipping my first mug of coffee, I noticed some activity on the underside of the patio umbrella. What?? A female Cardinal starting a nest. I grabbed my T6 with 17-85 and attempted a shot through the double pane UV coated patio door. No go, so I put on my 75-300 mm. Still way to dark. The patio is on the north side of my house and the light is not great, especially on the underside of the umbrella. I put on my Godox flash and after adjusting the intensity finally got some decent pics.
After about 2 hours I really did not think this was the best place for this Cardinal pair to build a nest, so I took it down and stuck the material on top of fence. Well, she just started again. Now I felt bad, so while she off on a forage I put the material back. She flew in, looked at this sudden appearance for a bit, then spent about 20 min arranging the stuff to her liking.
Nest building took 3 days with a final weave of pine straw on the inside. The male showed up with a snack for the female. We saw him breaking off twigs for the female and he was probably busy feeding the fledged chicks from the previous brood. Cardinals may raise 3 to 5 broods a year. A typical nest can have 3 to 5 eggs.
Egg laying started on the 4th day from 7 to 9 am and then she flew off for the rest of the day, returning the next morning to lay another egg. She laid 3 eggs. Incubation does not start until all the eggs are laid and then she sits on the nest for most of the day & night, leaving only to feed. The eggs hatched early on the morning of July 22. When I checked the nest at 7 am there were the 3 chicks.
Cardinals keep a very clean nest. They immediately take away the egg shells. The chicks poop in white sacks and the parents immediately take these away.
Nest down shots were with my iPhone 5se. All the rest with Canon T6 with 75-300mm IS USM at F6 to F7.1, 1/160, ISO 400.
This story will continue over several days.
After about 2 hours I really did not think this was the best place for this Cardinal pair to build a nest, so I took it down and stuck the material on top of fence. Well, she just started again. Now I felt bad, so while she off on a forage I put the material back. She flew in, looked at this sudden appearance for a bit, then spent about 20 min arranging the stuff to her liking.
Nest building took 3 days with a final weave of pine straw on the inside. The male showed up with a snack for the female. We saw him breaking off twigs for the female and he was probably busy feeding the fledged chicks from the previous brood. Cardinals may raise 3 to 5 broods a year. A typical nest can have 3 to 5 eggs.
Egg laying started on the 4th day from 7 to 9 am and then she flew off for the rest of the day, returning the next morning to lay another egg. She laid 3 eggs. Incubation does not start until all the eggs are laid and then she sits on the nest for most of the day & night, leaving only to feed. The eggs hatched early on the morning of July 22. When I checked the nest at 7 am there were the 3 chicks.
Cardinals keep a very clean nest. They immediately take away the egg shells. The chicks poop in white sacks and the parents immediately take these away.
Nest down shots were with my iPhone 5se. All the rest with Canon T6 with 75-300mm IS USM at F6 to F7.1, 1/160, ISO 400.
This story will continue over several days.
What? - On my patio?
(Download)
I have a snack
(Download)
Thanks
(Download)
Lots of twigs
(Download)
Just about done
(Download)
1st egg
(Download)
All done with egg laying
(Download)
Early Morning July 22nd
(Download)
Jul 31, 2018 06:37:05 #
Dave327 wrote:
On the morning of July 4th while sipping my first ... (show quote)
Wow, that's neat, keep us posted! Good job!
Jul 31, 2018 06:37:52 #
tommy2
Loc: Fort Worth, Texas
Most interesting story and photos! Need to figure out how to send your post to our resident "Bird Lady" - if that is ok? She is not all that computer savvy, same as myself, so will have to work on this. Might be easiest to just take this laptop to her.
Jul 31, 2018 06:53:37 #
Sure - You can copy the downloads and send them to “Bird Lady” or if she is on Facebook PM me and I will give you info to friend us (my wife). We have posted lots of pics and videos daily. On Facebook my grandkids are lov’in this story.
Jul 31, 2018 07:03:09 #
Dave327 wrote:
On the morning of July 4th while sipping my first ... (show quote)
Dave, excellent photos and excellent documentation.
Greg
Jul 31, 2018 07:05:13 #
tommy2
Loc: Fort Worth, Texas
Dave327 wrote:
Sure - You can copy the downloads and send them to “Bird Lady” ...
Thank you. I might have done this the hard way but I bookmarked the story then copied the link and inserted it into an e-mail to her. Clicking on that link in the copy in my computer's "sent" folder opens it but that might be because I am a member of UHH.
She will be out tending her feeders in a couple hours so I'll ask her then if she has been able to open the link too.
Jul 31, 2018 07:06:37 #
Jul 31, 2018 07:22:55 #
Jul 31, 2018 08:02:20 #
Thank you all for your comments! My wife and I are having a lot of fun with this unfolding story. BUT, we will enjoy getting are patio back :)
Jul 31, 2018 09:50:25 #
TBerwick
Loc: Houston, Texas
I have never seen cardinals nest anywhere other than bushes & trees. Thanks for the story and photos.
Aug 1, 2018 07:40:30 #
Dave327 wrote:
On the morning of July 4th while sipping my first ... (show quote)
Nice photo story of nest to egg to birdie!
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