Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Growing Up...Cardinal - Wordless Wednesday








Visit Wordless Wednesday for more photos.
©Michelle A. Potter

56 comments:

  1. How helpless, yet pretty!
    Great series of captures.

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  2. The baby bird in the last two shots looks like a maniac! We had a black snake eat the nestfull of phoebes on our porch rafter.

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  3. fantastic how you followed them.
    wow, how big they get so fast.

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  4. I love these pictues!! Unless a bird flies onto a tree limb and holds perfectly still while I find my camera, keep my dogs out of the garden, go back outside, and set up the shot, my bird pix are always duds! Lucky you!!

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  5. @Indrani Thanks, Indrani. They do look so very helpless. It is hard to imagine they soon go off by themselves.

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  6. @colleen He is begging for food from mom. They don't look very pretty at this stage...for a cardinal.

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  7. @caite It is surprising how fast they grow. I remember checking the nest to see how they were and being surprised that they were gone. They had fledged...

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  8. My boys and I are having a great giggle over the last two pic's, his eyes are crazy! What a wonderful little discovery, so glad you shared it with us. My little bird lover and I didn't find any nests this year so I love showing him all the ones I come across on my friends garden blogs...thank you!!!

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  9. @Julia@PolkaDotGaloshes Poor thing...he doesn't have all his feathers yet. They don't look very pretty at this stage. It is kinda' funny...

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  10. That is one crazy looking bird!

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  11. Great story. We have a family also, its funny watching the fledgling follow the male around, with the female bringing up the rear.

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  12. Michelle how lovely the photos tell the story, I love the photo third from the bottom were the young chick is peeking out from under the leaves, happy WW, Frances

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  13. Your beautiful pictures tell a wonderful story, well done.

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  14. What a great set of photos, so lovely.

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  15. Super photos! The bug eyes on the baby bird in the last two shots are hilarious! Happy WW!

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  16. Amazing photos! I love the last two--it looks as though the fledgling is saying "No way am I flying off this perch":)

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  17. @Kristin It's funny how they look like that when they are young and then turn out to be so lovely.

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  18. @greggo It is such a sight to see...to watch as the parents take such good care of the young. I find it fascinating.

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  19. @Island Threads Thanks, Frances. He or she was trying to be so still and quiet.

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  20. @Pauline Thanks, Pauline. It was such a joy to witness the beauty of nature.

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  21. @PippaD I am glad they only had two fledglings. I wonder how they manage when there are more.

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  22. @Karin / Southern Meadows They sound so desperate, too, as they call their parents for food.

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  23. @Rose I think you are right. Once, a fledgling missed a branch and landed on the ground. Both parents came close to him to protect and encourage him to move higher. It was so interesting how caring they are toward their young.

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  24. @Casa Mariposa I know how it is. It is not easy. I, too, have had the cats at my feet meowing and scaring the birds away. And there have been times I have run into the house to get the camera, come back, and whatever I wanted to get on film was gone. I feel lucky that I was able to get these.

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  25. A wonderful series of photos...it tells a beautiful story...obviously there are no need for words!

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  26. Aw! I love them all...especially the bug-eyes!

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  27. @gtyyup I thought so, too! Thanks for your kind comments.

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  28. @Hanni He or she looks so pitiful as he begs mommy for food. He or she looks much better now as the feathers have filled in around the eyes. :)

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  29. Oh, what wonderful photos. I'm always amazed at how wide baby birds can actually open their mouths (your last photo hows that perfectly). Some days it feels like my kids look at me in that exact same way!

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  30. It always a privilege to view these usually hidden gems of nature.

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  31. @Debbie/GardenofPossibilities I, too, am always amazed at how wide they open. Nature has a way of ensuring they get fed, I suppose.

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  32. @Bridget I agree..I feel honored to have been able to observe these special events. I have learned a lot, too.

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  33. That is one different-looking baby bird in the last two pictures. How interesting to capture each stage of the cardinal's development. Great photos and collage.

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  34. Such a charming family. Love their parental instincts and closeness. Your photos are very well captured.

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  35. Wow! Such beautiful photos. I find it so magical to watch birds hatch and grow to adulthood. I hope these visit your garden often.

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  36. How quick that baby grows and how quick the time flies. Lovely wordless story.

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  37. Oh wow, what amazing captures through your lens. Cardinals are my favourite bird.

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  38. What amazing photographs!! Thank you for sharing with us.

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  39. Great photos - I followed 2 nests last year until they fledged - it was fascinating :)

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  40. Thank you for these great photos! I enjoyed looking at the mother cardinal rearing her baby.

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  41. @Aerie-el It was so much fun to capture them. I learned so much more about them.

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  42. @GrafixMuse They are still flying around. I heard the little ones communicating with the parents up until a day or two ago. They must be on their own now.

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  43. @Malay-Kadazan girl I can't believe how quick they grow. They fledged so quickly, I almost did not get the shots.

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  44. @Rosie@leavesnbloom Isn't it? I don't think I will ever tire of watching them.

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  45. Awesome photos! I think the second from the last is my favorite.

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  46. Precious pictures! I love the two last especially! I am melting looking at them... Thank you!

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  47. @Tatyana@MySecretGarden Aren't they cute? I am so glad I got those shots...and I am so glad you like them.

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  48. I love all of these photos...especially the 2nd to the last. It is SO expressive! You really managed to capture them in every stage...fantastic!

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  49. @Jan@Thanks for today. Thanks, Jan. I feel very lucky that I was able to get those photos. I cherish them. I felt honored to be a part of it--even in a small way.

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  50. I LOVE these photos! I agree. What a pitiful sight where the baby, with bulging eyes and confused down and feathers, is begging for food. But as nestlings they're adorable!

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  51. @Your Gardening Friend They do look so vulnerable, don't they. Now, they are beautiful with all of their feathers and crests.

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'I see trees of green, red roses, too
I see 'em bloom for me and for you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world'
--What a Wonderful World

Thank you for visiting The Sage Butterfly blog. I enjoy reading your charming reflections very much. Have a great day!

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