He sits on the tree, watching Dad get some food.
He preens himself since it is taking so long.
And of course, since I have my camera they move behind the tree for the feeding.
The adult male on the left with Junior on the right. You might want to click to enlarge. See how fresh and clean the juvenile is? And poor Papa looks like he has had a hard summer.
Last week we had the pleasure of seeing the juvenile female make her first attempts at flying to the feeder. She first flew to the post, then flew and clung to the wooden shingles near the feeder. Finally she was successful at gettting some food on her own. Unfortunately we didn't catch a photograph. Perhaps as this male begins to feed himself we'll be able to get a shot.
Thank goodness we have the birds and dogs to watch. In this dreadful weather we enjoy the outdoors only when we are indoors. Yuck!
20 comments:
Aren't they just a joy to watch, Carolyn? We had three around the feeders recently... And the young ones really have to work hard to learn!!!!! Love to watch them...
Great pictures. Mine always go behind the tree also when I get my camera out.
Hugs,
Betsy
Fantastic photos! Thanks for sharing!
I certainly hope the male fledgling will be more cooperative and let you get some pictures when he tries feeding himself.
Even if they know you have the camera, and move behind the tree--you still get great pics.
Dad looks a bit haggard. I'm sure the heat doesn't help one bit. We are frying!
I agree YUCK to the heat. This was a fascinating post about the fledglings. Pileated Woodpeckers are marvelous to watch. Looking forward to more photos. -- barbara
I'd agree with the complaints about the heat, but I'd worry I'm being redundant.
And I can't believe I left without telling you how much I enjoyed today's photos. You really do capture amazing images of birds.
Great photos!!!! I haven't seen a Pileated Woodpecker in a long long time. Thanks.
A Hairy Woodpecker baby managed to land on our suet feeder opposite his mother. However, he still didn't feed himself. He clung next to the block of suet and demanded that his mom feed him! Of course, by the time I grabbed my camera, the funny scene was over...
I hope that it cools down for you.
Great captures! Such handsome birds.
That is so neat!! Thanks for sharing !!! I love watching the babies!! What do you feed them? We have a feeder out 365 days a year, but I have seen very few woodpecker at our feeder.
Yes it is hot!! For us it has been over 100 most days since the first of May!!! 15 inches short of rain too!!
xx, Fern
Poor Poppa - these jueveniles can frazzle one out!
Poor you in that heat wave. Ugh. Cool and raining here. So unusual for us.
I forgot to talk to you about the coons, sorry!
I moved here 35 years ago this month and there were coons and possums all over the land and I had had no experience with either. I had been told they were dangerous!!! They are only dangerous when they are sick and in 35 years I have only seen one possum sick!!! In all that time no coon has ever been sick with rabies........ in 35 years. In my experience these animals are not dangerous at all!!! I have doctored them when one would have gotten hurt by either a car or a bite from another animal. Done that many many times over the years. I never touch one unless they have a wound that needs help. Then they look at me like --what you doing???
They are very smart and will learn their mane if I call them that name over a few times. Every one of the coons and there have been hundreds have been just plain nice to know!!
Fern
Fantastic photos! I am surprised by how worn out the adult male pileated looks. Wow. That's quite a shot.
They are just so beautiful.
Poor Papa.....reminds me of my dear husband when our daughter was a baby. She did not sleep a full night for two years :)
It is wonderful to watch the juveniles grow and eventually make their own 'way'
Oh my word what fantastitc pictures..I've never seen a pileated that closely....thank you for sharing
Hugs Madi and Mom
Those are great photos...even if they tried to hide from you. :)
Funny how the old Dad is ragged...don't we all feel like that somedays??
What a great show to watch from indoors. Bird parents tend to look very ragged and worn by mid-summer.
What wonderful pictures ... thanks so much for sharing them. I got a kick out of "Dad"...he looks like he's had a rough night out.
Thanks for your comments, everyone. We do feel fortunate to have resident Pileated Woodpeckers.
Fern - We feed a special suet designed for hot weather so it doesn't melt.
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