GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist has written a blog about science since 4 August 2004 (the early years are archived 
tags: Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, birds, Image of the Day
Male Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, feeds his chick in Central Park, NYC. [song link]
I found this pair about twenty feet away from the nest site. I have been observing the progress of the nest and was delighted to find at least two of the three nestlings had fledged successfully. Should you find this inspirational I would hope you will demonstrate some restraint and not try it yourself at home with a significant other. I would strongly recommend you leave it to the professionals.
Image: Bob Levy [much larger]
Comments
What a wonderful picture! I had a nest of cardinals on my front porch for two years that nested above a iron candle holder. No candle light those years! It was so interesting to watch all the goings on with that nest of babies. Each year 3 babies fledged. Then last fall I sided the house and this year no birds on the porch....There also had nested house finches those years. I miss them! I believe they have nested out back in a neighbors apple tree as I have seen them in the back yard and the parents are not abit afraid of me when I am out there. Thank you for the pic, Hedwig!!
Posted by: Diane in Ohio | August 5, 2007 1:56 PM
It looks like they're swimming in a river of leaves.
Posted by: cfrost | August 11, 2007 5:46 AM