If the Caroline Wren has young, then what you saw was perhaps the female cardinal carrying away a fecal sac from one of the wren nestlings? Sometimes the mothering instinct is too strong to resist.

BN

Wow, that is so amazing how both birds are nesting in the same basket. I've never seen that before!

Linda

The Carolina wren does have young. I could see two mouths open near the rim of the basket when the mother came with food yesterday or the day before.

I left for a few hours this afternoon and when I got home I could hear a Cardinal, but the female wasn't on her nest. I finally saw the male going back and forth between the two azaleas that are under the basket. The female eventually made an appearance, but didn't sit on her nest. Instead she looked into the CW's nest and flew off. The CW has been back a few times looking into her nest, but I haven't seen her feeding. I can see a baby head moving from time to time.

Now I'm wondering what's going on with the female cardinal. She hasn't been on her nest for almost an hour.

The female Cardinal just returned to her nest after a quick peek at the wrens. If I didn't know better I'd say she fed them something. As soon as she moved to her own nest the Carolina wren appeared with food in her mouth. As she left I noticed, what looked like, the same white "thing" in her mouth. So, BN, maybe you're right. I'm fascinated by all of this and just wish I understood what's going on. Hope I'm not boring y'all. ;)

What a great story! I wonder what's going to happen when both nests have hatched babies. Will the wren feed the cardinal babies? Will the female cardinal drive herself crazy trying to feed both families? And what will the male cardinal do....

Claire

How neat and really cool pics! Cardinals, both female and especially the male will feed almost anything that is gaping. I had a little Junco that hit the window and was a little stunned sitting on the sidewalk one day and a male cardinal knew something was wrong and was trying to feed it. I ran for the camera and the Cardinal flew away. It was so cute. I was watching the Junco to make sure he was OK and sure enough he recovered and flew off. Keep the pics coming if you can.
Cathy

Fabulous pictures! What a delightful nature story you have going on in your flower basket! Not boring at all. That's amazing that those birds are nesting so close and the Cardinal seems to be mothering the wren babies. This makes me want to put up a hanging basket. :)

Thank you all for the info and making me feel a lot better. I was clueless about what was going on. This is pretty cool, lol.

Here's hubby visiting the nest...

{{gwi:649400}}

This is a fascinating story. I'm just amazed that they would both use the same basket. Please keep the story going. Hopefully both nests will be successful.

What a way to start the day! As I passed the living room picture window this morning I heard chatter and caught a glimpse of movement. I walked closer and saw the Carolina wrens with their heads above the basket rim. I was pretty sure what was coming so I grabbed the camera.

Fledgling #1...

Ready to test those wings ... "Here we go!"...

#1 with a bit of a bumpy start ... "Where am I?"...

fledgling #2...

#2 flew to the lattice...

"Lady, enough with the pictures!"...

What amazed me was that the male cardinal was right there with the Carolina wren parents making sure the babies were safe. The fledglings flew around the azaleas for awhile, then into the courtyard and side yard until they eventually flew off.

Wow, what timing! and congratulations on the first empty nest! Great photos - now you have to be there for the cardinal family.

Thanks!
Claire

I once saw a male cardinal, at the flat feeder, turn and feed a house finch next to him. I thought he looked embarrassed by his mistake but given these other stories I guess he was proud of himself.

What an interesting story you have going there. What luck seeing the fledglings too. Hope you get to see the Cardinals go too and get some shots to share with us.

Donna

How wonderful , I would definatly send this story and photos to Cornell http://www.nestwatch.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=577 , It would be a great story to put on the Cornell nestwatch site. May even want to send to Birds and Blooms mag, they love these stories and we are talking about an unusual nesting in flowers!! I think you get some kind of compensation if B&B uses your story. www.birdsandblooms.com
keep us up dated!

Thanks so much for the update. Carolina Wren babies are so darned adorable. I thoroughly enjoyed your story. How neat that two different birds were able to nest side by side in the same basket. I hope you get to see the Cardinal babies fledge too.

One word ADORABLE!!! I just love those stubby little fledgling tails. Great shots! Ditto to every thing already said.
Cathy

HOW INCREDIBLY CUTE!! Thanks for the amazing photos!

It's true Cardinals will feed anything-some might remember that famous National Geographic "Song and Garden Birds of North America" photo of a male Cardinal stuffing insects into the mouths of huge goldfish in a N. Carolina backyard pool that gathered to be fed whenever he chirped to them

Hi natal - there has been a similar incident of co-nesting by Northern Cardinals and Carolina Wrens in Oklahoma. I am working on an article for publication and would like to refer to your report. Please reply if you are interested. Thanks!

This is a pretty old post. But I'm thinking it was a fecal sac that you see the birds carrying out. It keeps the nests clean.