The Cardinal's Make a Nest or two"

The Cardinals in my garden seem to be the same couples that have taken up residents for at least 10 years.
I'm not an expert on bird behavior or habits, but I'm almost certain or would like to believe that these are the same two.

 

I read that Cardinals may produce four broods between April and August, They are already on their second nesting site this month, This time in the Weigela " Eva Rathke" the first nesting site was in the Duetzia Scabra where they produced and  reared three little babies.

I attempted to take photo's of their first little nest and brood by climbing up on a ladder, My Mom watched me with concern and amusement..."You know you  may get your eyes pecked out! .. "Yeah Mom, but If I can do this quickly, perhaps I won't disturb or scare them, It will only take a second"...So I thought"

  I didn't realize how dense the Duetzia Scabra  shrub really was  until I was high above it on the ladder.."Okay, mooove  slooowly"...

"Oh! there they are... If  I can just get this camera to focus"..

before my finger could even locate and  push the button.. LOUD  PIERCING SCREAMS and SHRIEKS! emitted from the biggest baby in the nest  like a Sonic Boom!...quicker than my cat can say Meow! ...

I had that ladder down and out of the way!  I knew Mom and Pop cardinal would be here in seconds flat after hearing those cries and they were!

I gave up trying to get photo's of this first event for this cardinal family was quick and smart as whips!

I guess I'll  have to leave this to the experts with fancy camera's..  However, once they were away attending to their babies who have now left the nest, I decided to take a picture of the empty nest... I watched the nest for several days, mom and dad returned,  but not to nest and it's single egg"  Instead they began a new nest in the Weigela. I will probably remove the nest and egg and save them as a keep sake.

I have a good view of Mom and Pops second nest site because this shrub is not as dense and is shaped a lot different.  This time I will just observe them from my garden chairs and maybe if I sit still enough,  perhaps I'll get lucky and capture a few pictures......

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Daddy Cardinal gets lunch for Mom and the kids... Mom ( below)  takes a rest on a lawn chair as she ponders dinner.

         Below: Mom and Dad take turns watching for enemies high up in the shrubs.

Mom working on her New nesting site in the Weigela.

The nest almost complete.... Stay tuned for my antics and attempts as I try to capture the  the second  chapter  as it happens in my garden.. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.