Posted by Patrice Duff on June 9, 2006

Q: A mother and father Cardinal had a nest near our garage, they came every day to feed their babies and one day all of the baabies were gone except 1 small one, the mother and father still kept coming and feeding the 1 baby left. this morning I saw the Father and mother come to feed the baby, when my husband got home he said the baby had died so he buried it. My question is I think he should have left the baby in the nest so as not to upset the parents , also the baby may have still been alive, right? I have read that cardinals grieve and now they do not know what happened. Please advise. Thank you!

Patrice

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Texas

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: I can't be sure, but I would assume that the absence of the other babies was due to their fledging (leaving the nest to begin life outside the nest even though still being fed by parents). It's very likely that the one left behind was indeed dead - no telling what may have been wrong.

The parents are not going to be upset with the disappearance of their young. When they return to an empty nest, they'll simply redirect their efforts to caring for the other babies. No one knows whether birds grieve or not but most scientists would probably tell you they probably do not. Thanks for asking and I hope this gets your husband "off the hook".

John Wiessinger ( June 10, 2006)