This is video and text of a cam that was place above a Northern Cardinal nest.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience was watched by several thousand
bird lovers who visited our website. Live chats were also had during
this time.
A pair of Northern Cardinals decided to nest in a small cedar tree
located in a backyard in Lawrence, Kansas. A bird cam that was
originally purchased to
be installed in a Purple Martin house, was instead placed above the
Cardinals nest. .
A connection to the web was made and we began streaming this live
cam on April 10, 2009. From April 10, 2009 until May 10, 2009 this nest
was
viewed by thousands of people who stumbled upon our Nest Cam while
seaching for something else only to end up, returning to watch the
drama unfold.
And there was drama.
Three eggs were laid before a Cowbird arrived and removed two of the
eggs and laid one of her own. The female Cardinal
incubated and hatched both a Cowbird and a Cardinal egg.
After an attack by a Grackle, our smallest hatchling died. We were
never certain whether the Cowbird or Cardinal nestling survived since
they
looked similar in the nest, regardless, we fell in love with the
survivor.
And for the next several days we sat glued to our computer screens.
From as far away as Sydney Austrailia, people came together to watch
a little bird, in a nest, in a backyard in Kansas.
Hoping, and sometimes praying, that nature would finally be kind
enough to let this little nestling join the world and safely leave the
nest.
Thankfully, she did. This is that story, edited in video and text.
Please take some time to relax and enjoy...
Brought to you from, Gene at www.wild-bird-watching.com
Beginnings
A Little background information will give you a better understanding of
the surroundings.
The camera is place in a small cedar tree that has always been
trimmed to about 9 feet tall. The reason it's trimmed and kept so short
is that the tree
is within 12 feet of our Purple Martin set up and Purple Martins don't
like tall trees near their housing.
This is the tree where the Cardinal nest is located.
In the photograph below, the white circle represents the location
of the nest and bird camera.
Nest Shaping
This is a video of the female shaping the nest bowl for her future
brood.
Incubation and Egg Turning
Our female began incubation on the 16th of April.
She weathered thunderstorms, high winds, and cold temperatures over
the course of 13 days and nights.
Early morning April 29, 2009, two hatchlings were born into this
world.
Meet The Cardinal Pair
Outside of view of the nest cam things were going on.
The male and Female Northern Cardinal can be seen bringing food to
their nestling. Sorry that you have to look close but I didn't want to
disturb them.
Video of the female unsuccessfully trying to entice the nestling to
leave the nest by showing him food and then flying out of the tree.
This was day 10, the next day our little one left the nest.
More Of The Pair Outside The Nest
10 Days In The Nest Revisited
An edited version of the 10 days leading up to the day of fledging.
Re-live Day 11 Of Our Little Nestling Leaving The Nest
A bird cam was placed above a Northern Cardinal nest. A once in a
lifetime opportunity to see an open nester from nest building to when
the nestling left the nest.
Eleven days after hatching the surviving nestling left the nest. This
is an edited video of that last day know as... Day 11 Fledging Day.
