They Left the Nest!

Last year one of of our many resident cardinal families nested in the cut-leaf maple outside my bay window.  This maple has the exact coloring needed for camouflage against predators and curious humans and has much of the coloring of an adult female cardinal.   Had the tree not been so close to the front door and my regular passage, I would probably have never discovered that nest.  If you are a regular reader of my blog you will remember the successful and dramatic departure of the two little birds a year ago.  This year they nested again.  The female laid two brown spotted eggs the size of the end of my index finger shown in my quick blurry photo below.

Taken on May 21.

As you may be able to see below, they both hatched.  There are two little naked featherless avians in the photo below snuggled in this tiny nest barely aware of their own existence.  Look at the end of that yellow bill as it curls around the tiny head.

Taken June 6.

Below, a few days later, they are now aware not only of their existence but of mine!   As they cower down low and think they are hiding.  I sure must look like some strange monster and not at all like mom or dad.

Taken June 9

The proud and somewhat concerned papa.

Eventually as they grew, their hunger got the better of them and they opened their big maws for anything that might drop inside.  These guys are a little intimidating, I think.

Taken June 10

Below, in just 24 hours, they ballooned larger and were beginning to push each other out  of the nest.  You can also see how this one's bill is beginning to change from a long yellow border with a curl to a bill that looks more like a cardinal's bill.  This one also was beginning to get his/her feathers.

Taken June 11

Then the very next day along comes a big wet thunderstorm, and as I went out I saw that the nest, while still tucked in the notch of the branches, looked very wet.  The little ones were now resting on top of the tree branches and appeared a little drenched and perhaps insulted that they must endure such discomfort!  "Wha happened?"  Welcome to the real world my little ones.

Taken June 12

When I returned a short time later on the same morning, the first had gone and Papa and Mama were chittering away in a nearby holly tree entreating this little one in the photo below to test his/her wings.  I did not see it fly, but it too was gone a short time later.  I am always a little sad and feeling a little restless when the young ones leave the nest.  It is now more quiet in my front yard.

Taken June 12