The New Neighbors Building a House Next Door

/ Jodi
female cardinal nest

Please click to enlarge photo

Momma Cardinal has been working for days right outside of our bedroom window in the rhododendron bush building this beautiful new home.

It is sure to add value to the neighborhood!  Don’t you think?

I have never been more fascinated watching such diligence and perseverance as she flies in one tiny stick at a time, places it on the pile, then shakes her tail feathers to form the “cup” shape.

The new home has been under construction for about three days now.  I cannot believe our good fortune to have such a view of this little miracle of nature.  I can’t wait to see the eggs and then baby cardinals!  Can you imagine how awesome that will be to watch!?!

According to Wikipedia, cardinals mate for life and stay together year-round.  Isn’t that romantic?!  Mated pairs sometimes sing together before nesting. During courtship they may also participate in a bonding behavior where the male collects food and brings it to the female, feeding her beak-to-beak.  If the mating is successful, this mate-feeding may continue throughout the period of incubation.

The nest typically takes three to nine days to build, and cardinals do not usually use their nests more than once. The eggs are laid one to six days following the completion of the nest. Three or four eggs are laid in each clutch.  The female generally incubates the eggs, which takes 12 to 13 days.  And then, the young cardinals fledge 10 to 11 days after hatching.

Camera and tripod are set up, and I’ve taken about 50 kabillion photos already.

I love this one of her shakin’ her little tail feathers and looking at me while she prepares to nest.

Hope to share more soon.

Happy Friday Early Birds!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

32 thoughts on “The New Neighbors Building a House Next Door”

  1. I know why she’s shaking the Tailfeather! It’s Fridaaaaay! Lol!

    All kidding aside, what a beautiful photo and opportunity you have here. OMG this will be so cool, and we get to see tooooo! Woot!! Can’t wait!!!! Oh, the babies will be sooo cute!!! I’m so glad you posted this. I’m thinking, too, about how awesome your photos will be to draw/paint!! Love it, Jodi! Happy Weekend!! *shakes tailfeather*

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  3. Wow Jodi! This photo is priceless and precious! I am excited to get to watch mamma Cardinal as she sits on her eggs and when they hatch. (Hopefully you will keep us updated). How cool is it that they mate for life. Loved this post! I’m excited for future posts.

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  7. She knows how to pick a location. Mating for life…good vibes there.

    This is a beautiful post Jodi. I love your thought about how the value of your neighborhood has gone up. Thank you for sharing this.

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  11. Jodi, you may be on to another career! Time to buy a video cam and have it on all the time so all your followers can follow the birds any time they want! I follow some video cams from Africa and also when some Eagles nested close by in Vancouver, BC. I bet it costs a fortune and these are pie in the sky thoughts, but what a privilege to see these cardinals creating their family before our very eyes. Beautiful!

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