A Bit Confused

Our backyard birds give me joy in all seasons. I love the visitors we get during spring and fall migrations, but I love our year-round birds more. I love seeing the brightening yellow of the goldfinches. I love watching the courtship displays and the feeding of the fledglings.

This little cardinal is amazed that the parents stopped providing meals. A bit confused, the little one also seems a bit forlorn.

That's life, kiddo. You don't get a free ride and best to learn that now.

Food for the Red-bellied Baby

The advantages of living in the forest are far too numerous to list. Surely one of the biggest is being able to watch the birds go about their normal activities.

We have four pairs of resident woodpeckers; Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, and Pileated. As might be expected, they pretty much fledge sequentially based on their sizes. We had seen the Downy Woodpecker fledglings and looked forward to the Hairy Woodpeckers. The Hairys came to the suet in a frenzy and suddenly stopped coming. We have no idea what might have happened but apparently their nest was destroyed and they moved elsewhere. What a shame.

Right on time came the Red-bellied fledgling. For a frustrating week we saw only glimpses of the baby since the parents were feeding it deep in the woods. Gradually they began to bring the fledgling closer to the suet feeder and we were delighted to watch.

First the parent(s) bring the fledgling to a tree near the feeder. This is used so often by the woodpeckers that we have taken to calling it the "launching tree." From this tree they are fed and from this tree they make their first attempts to fly to the suet all by themselves.

Now don't you move from there. I'll get some food and be right back.

You can count on me!

Hmm...wonder if there's anything here I might try.

Never mind. Here's comes my fast-food breakfast.

The fledgling gets a tasty morsel of suet. It seems that early in the feeding process the parent feeds from above and as the fledgling gets older the parent feeds from below. Perhaps this is in preparation to teaching the little one how to eat for himself.

Is that all? Please can I have some more?

[Note that the fledgling has only a very subtle hint of red. This makes the bird blend into the tree and is fairly well hidden even in full view.]

The food is delivered quickly to feed the impatient fledgling.

These birds do not really need our suet. There is plenty of food available to them. But when I think of the long incubation phase, I am thankful I can provide a quick and nourishing bite of food for the hard-working parents. And yeah, I admit it. I do so love to watch the activity from my deck. Somehow it gives me a little faith that all might be well in this troubled world.

The Last of the Summer Fledglings

Our Red-bellied Woodpecker pair had a rather late season fledgling this year. The parents fed their first fledgling for a very long time (http://ncmountainwoman.blogspot.com/2009/06/reluctant-fledgling.html) In fact, the "baby" was already getting some red coloring by the time he started feeding himself.

The parents seem a bit more eager to get this latest fledgling out on his own. Perhaps it is because of the time of year. [I will call this bird a male for simplicity's sake. I have no idea whether it's a male or female.]

As usual, the little bird flies to a nearby tree while the father goes to the suet feeder.



Oh, I can hardly wait! I'm really hungry this morning.


Much to his surprise, the father does not land near the fledgling. He flies to another branch higher in the tree. The little bird seems quite surprised.

Daaad! I'm over here! Where are you going?

The little bird quickly skirts up the tree, screaming the entire time.

You missed the place where I was waiting!

He chases the father out the limb. (If you click on the photographs, you will notice less and less food in the adult's mouth with each successive picture.)

Hey, Dad! What's the matter with you? Don't you see me? What are you thinking?

The father does not even turn to face the fledgling.



What in the world is wrong with Dad this morning?

Finally, the adult turns toward the confused fledgling.


I'm really hungry, Dad. Can I have that bite?

At last the fledgling gets some breakfast.

He asks his father a question and they have a short conversation.

Tell me the truth, Dad. What was that all about?

Well, son. It's all about growing up. Part of a parent's job is to teach their children well. Someday when you have children of your own you will understand. Just know I love you.

The Fledgling is a Red Crossbill - One for the Record Books!

Sometimes when you look out, you just can't believe your good fortune. That's the way I was in early April when I saw a Red Crossbill at our feeders. First it was a mature male, then a first-year molting male, and finally a female. It was a rare sighting for our part of the country and we were delighted. Soon other Red Crossbills joined them and we expected to be treated to their presence for only a short while.

Most of the crossbills headed for parts unknown, but two males and two females stayed around. The local birders were excited with their presence since they were on the lookout for proof of a breeding pair of Red Crossbills in our area. We kept watching the crossbills to see how interested they were in one another. The male and female always came to the feeder at the same time. Good sign. When the female flew away the male always followed. Another good sign. We actually saw the male feeding the female. A REALLY good sign.

And on May 13, 2009 we saw proof positive that we indeed had a nesting pair of Red Crossbills. They brought two fledglings to our feeders.


Introducing Baby #1

And Baby #2

Baby #2 flew to the feeders since Mom had breakfast all ready.

Mom called down for Baby #1 to join the family meal.

Baby #1 refused to budge from the deck railing and looked at the rest of the family. The little bird simply didn't feel up to the short flight and landing on the feeder.

After a few minutes, Dad came to the rescue and flew down to feed little Baby #1.

The fledglings are very different from the parents. Their bills are sharply hooked, but not quite crossed. I would never have recognized them as Red Crossbills, but the behavior left no doubt.

I sent these photographs to our local birding expert who was even more excited than we were. She sent the photographs to a friend on the state records committee who sent them to the chair of the committee.

Red Crossbills are most commonly found in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the upper Midwest, and Canada. They have been reported in the very highest elevations in the mountains of North Carolina and while it is assumed they are nesting, there are few definitive reports. The committee requested the elevation at our house.

I searched the Internet and the information from our community. I found the highest and lowest elevation in the community and began to estimate our altitude. I ran the answer by my husband who immediately asked, "Why not just take the GPS outside and check the altimeter?" Doh!!! (Don't you just HATE that dumb feeling? Especially in front of your husband?)

It's official. The maximum elevation on our property is 2,943 feet, lower than the lowest ever recorded for crossbill nesting in North Carolina. With an article in the local bi-weekly newspaper about our findings, we have our 15 minutes of fame in this little town. We keep watching the other pair. Wouldn't it be a hoot if they are nesting here as well?

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.

Birds and Berries Update

The little Red-bellied Woodpecker is getting some red coloring on the head. Mom and Dad are still feeding the little one, who is getting bigger and bigger. No trips to the feeder yet.




This little Carolina Chickadee looks a bit weary. It's been a summer filled with laying eggs, protecting the nest, feeding, and fledging. And without any relief, the process starts over again.

As for the blackberries. They are well on their way to becoming my cobbler. It won't be long now.

The summer days are simply flying by. So many birds and so much nature to watch and so little time. I do hope all of you are enjoying the summer and storing up memories to take you through the winter.

Pileated Feeding

You may be getting a little tired of my woodpeckers, but I'm not. This is another attempt to catch the mother (Big Momma) feeding her not-so-little female (Hannah). No matter how often I see them, I am awe-struck each time.

They fly to this particular tree each time. Hannah is the top bird.

Big Momma (right) returns from the suet feeder with breakfast for Hannah.

No! Don't feed her behind the tree again!

There is still more food.

Yes! Finally.

Little Hannah is moving her head rapidly, getting every last bit of food.

(And making the picture blurry.)

We feel so fortunate in having these marvelous birds visit us several times a day.

Huey's Little Sister

You saw the male Pileated Woodpecker baby whom we have named Huey. (Many thanks to Lynne for giving us the name.) This is his sibling, a bit smaller than Huey, whom we have named Hannah.

Hannah (left) and Big Momma

As her mother flies to the feeder, Hannah anxiously looks at her.

You're coming back, aren't you Mom?

Big Momma comes back and feeds Hannah. And wouldn't you know it? She feeds her behind the tree, so I couldn't photograph them.

Thanks, Mom. Can I please have more?

Oh, they are such a pleasure to watch.

Woodpecker Babies

I have seen only one Red-bellied Woodpecker fledgling at any given time for the past week or so and I'm assuming there is only one now. Perhaps that is why the male has been so aggressive, wanting to guard his only child. He is still being fed. He has been "parked" in the tree waiting for something to eat.

How long must I hang on here?

The Pileated Woodpeckers have two offspring. This little guy can't quite figure out how to get up to the suet feeder. He won't go hungry, though. Mom and Dad are still flying to the tree to feed him. His crest is almost orange, rather than bright red. (Sorry about the quality. Taken through the screen.)

That thing looks pretty far away.

Living in the woods as we do, we really enjoy the woodpeckers. But it would be nice to have bluebirds as well. Fortunately, I learned long ago that we just can't have everything.