A female Northern Cardinal has laid two speckled eggs, and found a sneaky place to nest in a hemlock tree at Ijams.
Hemlocks are usually pretty open conifers, but she snuck a nest in a spot overlaid by drooping branches, which is very well-hidden. She will incubate her eggs for 11-13 days before they hatch.
Editor's note: The cardinal chose her location wisely. Despite the intense hailstorm that hit Wednesday night, shredding about a bazillion leaves, the hemlock proved to be a safe haven. Her nest survived. To protect her privacy, the location will not be posted.
- Text and photo by Laura Marsh
