I was startled by a bird fluttering out of a bush in the backyard while picking up twigs. Out of curiosity, I backtracked a few steps and gently pulled back a few of the closely-knit branches to discover a bird’s nest. Inside were two speckled eggs. A quick photo with my phone and a Google Image Search showed these were Cardinal eggs.
We’ve had a generational family of Cardinals living in our yard for many years. I see the male and female pairs flittering about, watch them grow old, then eventually see a younger pair. I’m not sure why they like our yard so much. Maybe the dogs offer them protection from the neighborhood cats.
It made me smile all afternoon to know the family line was continuing. I love birds and I’m thrilled to see nature continuing unabated despite human interference.
Tiny speckled eggs, a pair of embryos almost ready
to face the new world that awaits
them.
A dull red Cardinal chirps nearby, telling
me to be careful and not disturb her unhatched
babies.
I step away slowly and nod to the anxious
mother, letting her know her secret is safe with
me.
I will wait patiently for the eggs to hatch and
pretend I haven’t noticed, sneaking by for a quick
peek.
I’m looking forward to seeing the baby birds and hope that they will remain safe until they’re ready to fly. Have you had wild birds lay eggs nearby?
RB
This reminds me of a pair of flickers who visit my backyard each day. I have not seen their nest, though. Perhaps their home is high up in the trees.
They can be very sneaky about where they put their nests. I’ve found previous nests in outdoor hanging plants and empty flower pots on the patio.
Robins can behave this way as well.
In 2015, a pair of Bewick’s wrens made a nest in one of my garden shoes that I had put on a beam in the back porch to keep them from getting chewed by our Newfoundland puppy. It was a real surprise that the birds managed to hatch out at least 2 eggs with humans, a dog, and a cat coming and going close by. One day in July the whole family left the shoe. When I see a Bewick’s wren in the yard now I wonder if it’s a descendant of the Shoe Birds.
What a wonderful memory, Audrey! I’m trying very hard to keep the dogs from playing near the nest, but I’m sure the Cardinals are used to it by now.
Here’s hoping the current wrens in your yard are part of the same family. 🙂
Found this nest with four eggs in the Painted Montain corn patch. Discovered it while weeding.
I tried to paste a picture in the comment but no luck.
Ah, that may be a security setting. Hopefully, you can post it on your blog soon.
I love finding these hidden nests. It’s like finding pirate treasure! 🙂
Fine essay. You’ve got me wondering about the birds in my area. It’s 10:28 AM, and I don’t hear any birdsong. I don’t understand that.
Oh, oh! Perhaps they slept in this morning. 🙂
Thanks for the kind words, my friend.
So glad to read it.
Thank you so much, Nusrat!
I mean Richard.
I like being called “right” as well. 🤣
Love both the poem and the essay, Right.
Many thanks, Pat. 🙂
Love this Richard, that’s so amazing to see.
Thanks, Wayne! Seeing the wild bird eggs is much more exciting than my daily chicken eggs! 🙂
Haha oh absolutely! Lovely to have the next generation in your garden.