She Won’t Take Her Eyes Off Me! 😳🐦 (Cardinal Nest Guarding) #birdwatching #naturelovers

Cardinals (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) are beloved songbirds known for their vibrant red plumage (males) and sweet whistling songs. Their nesting behavior is fascinating and follows a predictable pattern each breeding season. Here’s an overview:

1. Nesting Season**
- **Timing:** Cardinals typically nest from March to September, with 2–4 broods per year.
- **Peak Activity:** Most nesting occurs between April and July.

2. Nest Location**
- **Height:** Nests are usually built 1–15 feet off the ground, often in dense shrubs, vines, or small trees.
- **Preferred Sites:** They favor thick vegetation, such as dogwood, hawthorn, rose bushes, or evergreen shrubs, which provide cover from predators.
- **Urban Adaptation:** Cardinals also nest in backyards, using hedges, ornamental plants, or even hanging baskets.

3. Nest Construction**
- **Builder:** The female does most of the nest-building, though the male may bring materials.
- **Materials:** Twigs, bark strips, leaves, grass, and pine needles, lined with softer materials like rootlets, hair, or fine grass.
- **Shape & Size:** A cup-shaped nest, about 4 inches in diameter, with a snug interior (~3 inches wide).

4. Egg-Laying & Incubation**
- **Clutch Size:** 2–5 eggs per brood (usually 3–4).
- **Egg Appearance:** Pale greenish-white or bluish with brown/gray speckles.
- **Incubation:** Only the female incubates the eggs for **11–13 days**, while the male brings her food.

5. Parental Care**
- **Feeding Nestlings:** Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge (leave the nest) **7–13 days** after hatching.
- **Fledgling Care:** Young cardinals depend on their parents for **2–4 weeks** after leaving the nest, learning to forage while still being fed by the male (the female may start a new brood).

6. Nesting Challenges**
- **Predators:** Squirrels, snakes, blue jays, and domestic cats often raid nests.
- **Parasitism:** Brown-headed cowbirds sometimes lay eggs in cardinal nests, though cardinals may reject them.

Fun Facts**
- Cardinals are **monogamous** and often pair for life.
- Males are fiercely territorial and may attack their own reflection if they perceive it as a rival.
- The female’s duller brown plumage helps her blend in while incubating.

Видео She Won’t Take Her Eyes Off Me! 😳🐦 (Cardinal Nest Guarding) #birdwatching #naturelovers канала Dronetastic Voyage