Little Hairy Woodpecker

[Disclaimer: These pictures are technically pretty bad, and a month ago I wouldn't have posted them. They were shot under the worst of conditions; at an acute angle through a glass door, with the sun shining directly on me and the camera. I didn't dare wait to get the camera bonnet and I wanted you to see this great sight.]


For several days we noticed that the Hairy Woodpecker was changing the pattern of feeding the little male. The mother would take longer to bring food, bring less food, and then fly away before a full feeding. We knew it was only a matter of time before this little guy was going to have to feed himself.

On Saturday, my husband called me and said, "I think it's about to happen." I grabbed the camera and watched.

The little Hairy is parked on the tree as usual.

He watches his mother go to the feeder and waits a long, long time.

He is stunned to see his mother totally ignore his hunger. She flies far into the woods.

The little Hairy sits for a while, trying to decide what to do. Mom doesn't come back. He is hungry and he knows where Mom gets the food. But it looks really far away. After several false starts, he decides to fly closer to the feeder.

Now what? I still don't know how to get up there.

He looks at the feeder from all angles.

It's just too far away.

He decides to try to get closer, this time by perching on the side of the house.

He clings there for a while, and decides to go for it.

He makes it on the very first try.

Finally, the little Hairy Woodpecker has something to eat.

After that first clumsy attempt, the little Hairy quickly became skilled at flying directly to the feeder. It's rather like riding a bicycle...once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of cake. We have come to call the tree nearest the suet feeder the launching tree. We suspect the Pileateds are about ready to stop feeding their little girl. Both parents are coming to the tree with her, and flying back and forth to the feeder several times before giving her anything to eat. I hope I can get some pictures of her first trip to the suet. And I REALLY hope they are of better quality.