Baby Cardinals learning to use feeder

This morning the baby cardinal with Mama watching on has learned to use the squirrel proof feeder. I think this one may be a boy. There are two of them. The other looks like a girl. See prior post for more details on this. Yesterday they learned to use the splash bath.

Here is what the cardinal family is up to

The cardinal family is very busy. Mama and Papa have close eye on the fledglings. The babies barely have feathers but they are learning to fly and investigating everything in the yard. The fledgling below ran into our lanai screen tonight but he was not injured. Phew!

Baby Cardinals All On Their Own and Thriving

This is follow-up to the status of the baby cardinals born this spring. The second brood were born on May 24, 2012. They all lived. The reason I was not sure was because two of them were always together. They stayed and learned the ropes with papa cardinal. The third cardinal was learning with mama cardinal. We didn't figure this out right away. They are pretty much on their own now. Here is a pic of the baby I think from the first brood. I wrote about him/her too. When we noticed him he was already 4 weeks old or so. We don't know if he had any siblings or not. If he did they did not live because he was an only child when he first showed up here. I think this pic is of him. His black nose is starting to turn orange now. Plumage color is coming in too. I still don't know if it is a boy or girl.

cardinal nestlings leave nest at 9 days old

The 3 nestlings are no more. They jumped ship yesterday at 9 days old (mockers left nest on day 12 last year). All 3 babes made it to the fledgling stage. They are all now in our backyard within the confinement of our 6 foot vinyl fence. We like to call it, the great big playground. They can flap their wings, jump around, investigate, and learn life lessons all they want in here and will be pretty safe. We already know papa and mama can handle a snake and the squirrel is around but the parents do not seem upset about it at this point, so we're not either. Mama and Papa have everything under control and I tell you they are a lot more discreet and quiet about it then the mocking birds ever were. They are very hush, hush and secretive. Most people wouldn't even know what was going on unless they were incredibly observant. Mama and papa zoom around very low to the ground, faster than a speeding bullet feeding and tending to their toddlers. When a baby tried to fly they are right there beside him encouraging as if it was their first baby steps. Very cute. The parents are working together quietly (the mockers bicker a lot) and seem content and at ease. As I shot these photos they very well knew I was right there. At first, they were a bit nervous but then they carried on like I didn't exist, feeding themselves at the feeder, looking for bugs, and feeding their fledgling right in front of me.

feeding baby mocker

These pictures were taken today. The babies are 23 days old now, born May 15, 2011. Still feeding the little guy 11 days after he ditched the nest. There is a flower in the foreground obstructing the first pic a little bit, but, it is very hard to get a good pic without scaring them. I was allowed pretty close, maybe 20-30 feet from them. But, you have to move quick, and being a amateur photographer, my nerves get the best of me, shaking like a leaf, blind as a bat to boot, it's a pleasant surprise I even get a shot at all! This is dad mocker feeding his baby boy. They look identical. I think this is the biggest baby mocker. The second picture is the baby right after dad took off, watching him leave. So adorable!

Mockers became Fledglings on day 12

*this pic was taken through my screened lanai. The first to leave the nest and investigate his surroundings. Mom quickly got him ushered under the bush line.

The first baby ditched the nest with a brave jump landing like a pro on his feet yesterday morning. 12 days in the nest was quite enough! What a big boy! All 4 were out by this morning when we woke up. The parents are still feeding them. They know exactly where they are even when they move. They won't be able to fly for up to a week. One got over our 6 foot fence and out of the playpen(our yard is like a great big playpen surrounded by white vinyl fence) and is now in our neighbors bushes, safely hidden for the time being. A snake has threatened and a hawk was chased out by the parents, followed by me screaming, and my husband not too far behind. Since then, they have all come under very tight control, quiet, and are well hidden. The parents are teaching them well. I can see how it just wouldn't work if you couldn't or wouldn't be willing to give your backyard up for 5 weeks(we use to enjoy using our pool). I wonder what happens to these poor little things in this case. The parents are highly aggressive. Little Monsters. My indoor cats can't even sit on the screened lanai without being tormented with their screaming and charging toward the screen with scare tactics. It's a no fly zone to any other birds who unknowingly are on route to their own destinations too, boy do they get a good nippin. And, when it's baby birdie bedtime (8ish) and we are sitting on the screened lanai, we get squawked inside. So you see, life living with the Mockers raising a family is for the birds...It's been our pleasure though! Really so enjoyable to watch.