Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/10/2008

Question
We had a cardinal build its nest in a crepe myrtle right by our driveway. Two things have happened. First the nest shifted sideways and one of three eggs fell out. Then we had to have our drive way torn up. I haven't seen either the mother or the father since late yesterday afternoon. I brought the nest in and have been keeping a heating pad over it in a shoe box. Trying to keep the temperature around 98.6. I read that was a good temp for the. I think she had been sitting on the nest for about a week. Any recommendations on how to save these eggs?

Answer
The best thing to do is contact your local wildlife rehab center. It is VERY difficult to hatch wild bird eggs and even more difficult to raise the young if you are not experienced. If the parents did not sit on the eggs for one whole day after they had incubated them for a week, the eggs are probably inviable (dead). But thanks for your concern.