The Baby Cardinals Are Gone

@CarolDM (203396)

Nashville, Tennessee

May 14, 2020 1:50pm CST

Was out walking around in the yard just now. I took a peek at the cardinal nest of babies. All gone! The nest is empty. Maybe I was not correct on the age of the babies when I discovered them earlier this week. They usually fledge between 7-10 days old. Sounds early but that is what the experts told me at Cornell. I hope they are safe and healthy. And maybe I will see them around the yard. Snapped this photo with my phone and sharing my empty nest syndrome with you. Hoping to find more nests soon.

20 people like this

19 responses

@LowRiderX (22901)

• Serbia

14 May 20

But were they too young to fly away?Are there any cats nearby?

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

I think I counted their age wrong. They can fly at seven days old. No cats that I have seen. The nest is intact.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

@LowRiderX I will think positive.

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@LowRiderX (22901)

• Serbia

14 May 20

@CarolDM Yeah, maybe you miscalculated, it would be good if that was it

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@moffittjc (128840)

• Gainesville, Florida

15 May 20

I hope they are gone because they flew away, and not because some predator got them. Keep an eye out and see if you see little red birds flying around your yard! lol

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@moffittjc (128840)

• Gainesville, Florida

17 May 20

@CarolDM A lack of feathers scattered everywhere is always a good sign!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

17 May 20

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 20

Alright now, I am thinking positive. The nest was completely intact, no feathers, they are safe.

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@DianneN (254926)

• United States

14 May 20

They flew the coop. Always sad. Cornell is a wonderful site for birds and ospreys.

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@DianneN (254926)

• United States

14 May 20

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

Yes they did. Cornell has helped me out a lot.

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@Hannihar (130150)

• Israel

15 May 20

@CarolDM I hope they are safe and healthy too.

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@Hannihar (130150)

• Israel

17 May 20

@CarolDM ok then.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 20

I will say they are.

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@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

15 May 20

i hope they are ok as well, one of my all time favorite birds!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 20

I think the parents will take care of them. Love the cardinals.

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@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

15 May 20

@CarolDM i am sure they will

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Nevena Zivkovic

@Nevena83 (66063)

• Serbia

15 May 20

Can they really fly so young?

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 20

Yes, for short periods, then they are the ground walking around, thy learn very early. And the parents stay with them.

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Nevena Zivkovic

@Nevena83 (66063)

• Serbia

16 May 20

@CarolDM Interesting. I didn't know about that.

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@AmbiePam (121033)

• United States

14 May 20

I guess those were confident babies!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

I sure hope so.

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@popciclecold (40214)

• United States

14 May 20

About two weeks ago, I saw some birds and they had little ones. They were so small and cute I just sat and watched them for a while. Don't know what kind they were.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

It is hard to tell when they are babies. You can often identify the adult birds.

@cmoneyspinner (9218)

• Austin, Texas

15 May 20

Baby cardinals? Come tot think of it ... I don't think I've ever seen baby birds. That must be wondrous!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 20

Oh my, yes it is so cool. There was a thrasher nest I talked about a few weeks ago. Babies! They have left now.

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@amadeo (111937)

• United States

14 May 20

Good afternoon and ye sorry .But they will be back as you know.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

Thanks. When they leave the nest they don't return. I wish them a happy life. But they may come back when they grow up.

@wolfgirl569 (135944)

• Marion, Ohio

14 May 20

They did not look that ready.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

Seven days is early but that is what I am told.

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@JohnRoberts (109841)

• Los Angeles, California

14 May 20

They flew the nest already!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

Yes they did. Sneaky birds.

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@thelme55 (79323)

• Germany

14 May 20

What a pity that they are gone. I hope you will find more birds nests.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

I knew they would leave just wish I could have seen them one more time. Oh well. There will be more.

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@thelme55 (79323)

• Germany

14 May 20

@CarolDM Yes. There will be more coming.

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@LindaOHio (222728)

• United States

15 May 20

Boy, they don't waste any time!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 20

Cardinals leave early, I am learning new things this year.

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@PatZAnthony (14749)

• Charlotte, North Carolina

14 May 20

It does sound a bit soon, but if the experts say that is when it would or could happen, guessing they would know.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

7-10 days. I am hoping for the best.

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

14 May 20

Oh! so sorry that you could not see the baby birds one more time. I hope that they will be able to fly good and come back for a "real visit".

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

Hope so too. This happens with nature. They have good parents.

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

14 May 20

Hopefully the little birds will show up in your yard soon.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

I hope so, I will keep looking.

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@pjmurphy (2498)

• United States

14 May 20

Our bluebirds are gone from their nest also. But we may have some more later. We had a cardinal nest just outside my window here and I think they may be building another now.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

The bluebirds have not nested here yet unfortunately. I see them at the house but nothing yet.

@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

14 May 20

I guess the Cardinals realised they were under surveillance and decided to move on!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 20

It was just time. They fledge early.