by Cheryl Batavia

Cardinals at the Palm Palace

Photo of male cardinal by Patrice Boucher from Unsplash

Photo of female cardinal by Joshua Cotten from Unsplash

Cardinals at the Palm Palace

Three small eggs,

pale blue flecked with brown

in a nest

made with love,

so exquisitely woven,

softly lined with grass.

Like a queen

in your palm palace,

self-assured

on your throne,

faithful cardinal mother

keeping your eggs warm.

We watched you

weaving your fine nest,

discovered

your blue eggs.

Pretty Mama, we share your

anticipation!

Very soon

your handsome husband

will help you

feed hatchlings…

King and Queen in your green realm,

reigning together.

We will watch

as hatchlings become

fledgelings, sprout

new feathers…

wobbly, but growing stronger,

flapping tiny wings.

Sometime soon,

comes the day they fly.

Under the

watchful eyes

of their parents, they’ll practice.

Soon, they’ll fly away!

We will watch

flapping tiny wings,

self-assured.

Someday soon,

King and Queen in your green realm…

Soon, they’ll fly away!

The cardinals’ nest, the “Palm Palace” is located among the fronds in the back of the tree on the left. We have a clear view of the nest from the window.

Copyright© 2024 by Cheryl Batavia

Northern Cardinals

Northern cardinals live in North America. They are the predominate bird in our neighborhood. A pair of cardinals have a nest in our little palm tree that is clearly visible from our window. The mother bird is sitting on three eggs.

From my research, I learned that they raise two families a year. I think this is the second nest. We have not seen the father yet. He is probably at the first nest feeding the hatchlings while his wife is sitting on eggs in the second nest. When the eggs hatch, he should be here to help feed the hatchlings their diet of insects.

Robert and I made a feeder, hung it on a shepherd’s crook, and filled it with black oil sunflower seeds, supposedly the favorite treat of cardinals. We also put out water on a stand. So far, there is no evidence that the birds are using it. Thank you, Joanna of naturetails, for your advice on providing both food and water.

I meant to post this before Easter, but WordPress problems have slowed me down. Anyway, I hope everyone had a happy Easter and a lovely weekend! I am getting the computer problems worked out, but I still may not be able to “like” for a while. I appreciate your patience.

51 Comments

  2. Unknown's avatar

    Very beautiful poem about the life of the cute birds, Cheryl! It’s really nice to witness it right from your window!
    Hope you have celebrated the Easter very well. May Jesus bless the mankind with love, peace, and forgiveness 🙏

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Mousumi for your kind words. Robert and I are overjoyed to have a cardinal nest outside our window. I was concerned that the birds might not stay, but after she laid the eggs and continued to sit on them, I was encouraged. The lawn was mowed, groceries were delivered, and Amazon dropped off packages. She is still sitting on the nest!

      Wishing us all a more loving and peaceful world! ❤️🌍💙

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  9. Unknown's avatar

    What a beautiful poem and a wonderful and informative post, Cheryl. We put out chopped, unsalted dry roasted peanuts in our feeder, which draws cardinals every day. They are such beautiful birds and we love to watch them and the other birds squabble over the peanuts. ❣️

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Michele. 🩷 I may take some photos when the babies are about ready to fly. I have refrained because I don’t want to scare the mother bird away. When she is sitting on the very deep nest, you can see just her head and tail.

      Happy April to you. It was such a busy day that I forgot to”fool” Robert until I read your comment, but I got him just now. I told him he had gone to 2 doctor’s appointments, lunch, and an x-ray today with a hole in his jeans! Wasn’t that mean?😂

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        You’re very welcome. Thank you – I love your story, Cheryl. A few years ago I went through the same thing with a precious dove family. 💗

        You’re so mean! 😂 A playful prank – no harm done. 😊

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  11. Unknown's avatar

    What a lovely poem, Cheryl –
    King and Queen in your green realm…
    Well penned! Your images are awesome. I had similar experience with a pair of pigeons on my window during covid days.

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  13. Unknown's avatar

    Your beautiful poem gives such justice and awareness of your King and Queen Cardinals, Cheryl. They are just delightful and nothing is more special that watching them nest, feed and then hatch. I have a next in motion of what I believe are finches and I thought for a minute of taking them down as they are so messy on the speakers under the eve but they bring too much joy and I just couldn’t. With that said, i won’t be feeding them either. You are a much nicer “mom” than me.. Too many mouths to feed here as it si.. lol
    Enjoy every minute!
    💓😂

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  14. Unknown's avatar

    Lovely poem of my state bird ..along with like 6 other states ha. We also get to watch them in their nest in a small bush at the side of our porch. So fun to watch the cycle although I do have to intervene when the Blue Jays and Snakes come around. As far as WP goes, I’ve been pulling my hair out over issue after issue. To get me by while on the road I am having to use Firefox to like the post and Chrome to make comments – total pain.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your thoughts. 😊

      Total pain! Me too! Why doesn’t WordPress screen share like Apple?!!! I really have neither the ability nor the desire to become a computer geek! Endless incomprehensible tutorials waste my time and energy! I eventually exchanged mostly helpful emails with them. Things are mostly working, but many more clicks are required!😜🤪🤨

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  15. Unknown's avatar

    I’m back here after months and reading this poem made me remember just how lovely your poetry is! You’ve captured beauty, anticipation, simplicity and utter joy in nature so well!

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Good to hear from you, Gauri! It’s wonderful that your career is going well and that you have parents who believe in you and support you. 💕😊💕

      Thank you for your lovely response to the poem.

      I wish you every success and happiness! 🍀 Have a great week!

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        I’m truly touched by your thoughtful and kind words 🥰💖 Such a wholesome energy 💛 Thank you! I am doing much better than I was in 2023 ☺️ There is a light at the end of the tunnel now that I was having difficulty seeing earlier.

        I hope and pray that you and your family are happy, healthy and having a good year so far! Wow we’re quickly approaching the middle of the year. Do take care in these changing seasons 😊🫖☕ Thanks again for your lovely words. Can’t wait to read your next poem!

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Lawreence, for your kind words! 😊 Cardinals are tiny birds, but during the breeding season, they are highly territorial. I am just glad the King and Queen are tolerating us!

      We are having lovely weather here. Yesterday, I was outside, grateful that the pollen count was low. Easter was quiet here, a bouquet of flowers for me, a chocolate bunny for Robert, and a dinner of lamb chops, peas and new potatoes.

      I was happy to read that you are developing an ambitious program of classical music. All the best, Lawrence! May you have a fantastic week! 💕❤️💕

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        My wife and I have recently landed in London for what will be a two month holiday. Travel went smoothly, and we’ve got several friends we are catching up with which we are really looking forward to! 🙂

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  22. Unknown's avatar

    The process is so beautiful. I have watched the Indian Bulbuls doing the same. They find a safe place for their eggs and weave the nest. The hatchlings are so cute…they open their cute mouths and are feeded by the parents.

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