Howdy (Cardinal) Neighbor-inos!

Date: April 29, 2007
Time: 3:00-3:15 p.m.

Weather Report: Fair, 68°F, 45% Humidity, Winds: W @ 14 mph; feels like 68°F.

Location: The backyard of my home in the upstate New York City of Rochester. This was a totally impromptu bird watching experience, which was begun as I was on the telephone, looking out our kitchen window into the backyard... glorious!

Bird Species/Markings/Features: 2 adult Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis)--1 male/1 female

Sights/Sounds/Activities: As you can see from the incredibly poor pic to the left, we have seen two cardinals (a male and female) spending quite a bit of time in our yard of late. After a few days of hearing the male chatter angrily when we entered our house, Anne and I did some exploration within the small bush beside the side stoop and discovered what appears to be a small nest!

Notes:It would appear as though we now have a small cardinal family taking up home outside our front door. I have been leery of taking a digital picture from the interior of the bush (in which the nest and female are vaguely visible), yet, as I do not want to startle the mother bird, who seems to be staying in the nest while the male guards the general vicinity.