p.1 #1 · Takes a Lot of Work to Build a Home and Raise the Young
It takes a lot of work to build a home and raise a family , especially for the red bellied woodpeckers.
I have had the real pleasure of watching this pair over these many weeks.
Last year , there was a tragic end to all the work. The nest was completed last year and the female moved in. One day I looked up and a dead woodpecker was half in and half out the nest. I have no idea what happened, but the nest was abandoned . So very sad.
This year, it seems to be going well. On March 18th, I spotted the male starting to excavate the nest about 20+ feet up in the tree. His new nest is just about 2 feet below the prior nest . Have watched since then and seen one of the offspring .
Here are just a few shots of the oh so many I have taken that hopefully give a sense of the life of the red bellied woodpecker.
As always, your nits, crits and comments are most appreciated.
Thank you for looking and I hope you enjoy
Birdie
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
p.1 #10 · Takes a Lot of Work to Build a Home and Raise the Young
What a neat series, Birdie! I love the one of the excavation from inside--such a story there. It's a great diversion of fascinating natural history--complimented by your beautiful photos. The back story is intriguing also--nature's not always pretty, is it?
p.1 #13 · Takes a Lot of Work to Build a Home and Raise the Young
Great work Birdie. 3 and 6 catch my eye. Some years ago I found a nest under construction by the lake where I kayak, (while in the yak). It was facing the morning light and it was low enough that I could get good shots, but the next time I went, the tree had fallen in the water ~ Ron
that hopefully give a sense of the life of the red bellied woodpecker.
