Cardinal Nest and Eggs

Michael and I watched the mother cardinal put this nest together two weeks ago. She would fly across the yard and grab a stem and come back to stuff it into her nest. There was a male cardinal who looked like he was standing guard the entire time. When I came outside to watch her closer the male (guessing it was the father) would chirp. The mother did not return to her nest building until the father was quite and all was safe.

For a week we didn't see any activity at the nest. Yesterday I noticed the mother returned to the nest where she sat. Today I noticed she wasn't around so I peeped in to see if she had laid her eggs yet.

How beautiful! Perfect speckled blue eggs.

One egg had either fallen out, been pushed out or was kidnapped from the nest and was broken on the ground next to it.

I can't wait until the eggs hatch and the babies are here! I will share photos when they come!