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Birding/worried about cardinals not laying eggs

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Expert: - 5/22/2007


Question
My office bldg. is a one story with windows all around. Since late March, a pair of cardinals have been "fighting" with their reflections non-stop at every window. My fear is that they will never lay eggs if they think their reflections are real cardinals. Am I wrong? Will they still lay eggs, but continue "fighting" w/the windows, or are they doomed to be "childless"?  

Answer
Well, it's hard to tell. They are fighting perceived enemies and they might either decide to go elsewhere to nest or not nest at all because of all these enemies. Or they might settle down and build a nest. I just can't predict. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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