Expert: Roger Lederer - 5/6/2010

Question
While pruning a dense juniper, I noticed a new nest.  I stopped pruning that shrub.  Within days, increased activity of a mating cardinal pair was noted.  I became curious and noticed four eggs.  A few days later at least three babies had hatched.  Things seemingly were going well.

I live near Cleveland, Ohio and our typical late April frosts returned and we had three consecutive days of cold, damp weather.  After a flurry of activity, I became curious, and found the nest completely empty.  On the 29th April, there was no sign of the babies (which would have only been four days old) either in the nest, in the shrub, or on the ground.

A mating pair is still around and were feeding each other on the feeder 4th May.         

1) Was the weather, overnight lows in the mid 30s a factor?
2) After days of activity, did I unknowingly create a busy environment and scare the Mama off from her live babies?
3) Would the mama have tossed the babies out of the nest before abandoning the nest?
4) Should I remove the nest?  I have been in the habit of leaving the nests in the shrubs but over the years have at least 4 nests in the various shrubs (junipers, yew, and arborvitae.

Answer
The general rule is to disturb the nest and young as little as possible. Can't tell you how much disturbance is too much; depends on the parents and the kind of disturbance.  The parents would NOT have thrown the eggs or babies from the nest. If they were gone after four days, a predator got them - cat, rat, dog, opossum, squirrel, jay, etc. Leave the nest - the parents might renest, but if not, the remaining nest will give them some sense of security. Thanks for your concern. Roger Lederer