NORTHERN CARDINAL CHICK IN DISTRESS

BAJA BIRD WATCHER PAGE

Late in the afternoon, I noticed a lot of activity from the two Northern Cardinals that are nesting in the grapefruit tree next to my bedroom window. In following their frantic movements, I discovered that their young chick had either, fallen or attempted to fly, and was not in the nest but was now on the ground. I removed the screen and opened the bedroom window and set up the camera and tripod. Then took the following photos until dark (about an hour). The photos were taken about 20 to 25 feet away. The initial pictures are of good quality. I've reduced the resolution to as low as possible so the pictures would load as fast as possible (I hate waiting for pictures to load, don't you?)

	"Hey, Mom I'm hungry". "What the hell are you doing here, I left you in the nest".
"Well I had to try out my wings, so I was beating away and Opps, now I'm here". "I don't know what to do with you kiddo!"
	"If I told you once, I've told you a hundred times, don't leave the nest while I'm out getting dinner. Have I told you that?" "Come on Mom, quit peckin' on me"
"Well young man, you just wait 'til your father gets here. He'll straighten you out" "Ah, ma. I'm hungry".
	"OK, kiddo, what's this your mom says about leaving the nest too early?" "Dad, don't you peck on me too. I'm hungry!"
"OK, kiddo, I'll feed ya" "Goody-goody"
	"Open wide"
"Man, that hit the spot. Now for a little nap"
	"We've got a problem, kiddo. How are we going to get you back in the nest?" "I don't know, you're the grown-up, you tell me"
"Don't you get smart-alakey with me, young man. Another word and I'll call you father" "Cheeze, mom do you have to call dad?"
	"OK, wise-guy, quit bugging your mother. We can't get you back in the nest so we've got to find you a hiding place for the night"
"How about over there in that bamboo. Looks like a good place to me. Lets check it out" "Hey, dad, look at me, I can fly over there!"
	"Man what a neat hiding place. I wonder what that big white pipe is for?" Editor note: That big white pipe is the gray-water discharge from my kitchen sink. I use the gray-water for the bamboo. I don't do dishes tonight!

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