{"id":2856,"date":"2020-06-29T20:53:06","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T20:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.megforward.com\/birds\/?p=2856"},"modified":"2022-03-31T19:55:06","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T19:55:06","slug":"woodpecker-nest-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.megforward.com\/birds\/index.php\/2020\/06\/29\/woodpecker-nest-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Woodpecker Nest, 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Building a nest is a time-consuming job for any bird. Imagine the dedication required for a pair of woodpeckers as they take on the task of drilling and excavating a cavity in a tree trunk to use as a nest… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nest of the Red-bellied Woodpecker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Compare to nest of the Red-headed Woodpecker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Recently, quite by accident, I discovered a pair of woodpeckers preparing a nest in a cluster of trees behind my neighbor’s house. These Red-bellied Woodpecker<\/strong>s (Melanerpes carolinus) <\/em>preferred a dead tree trunk and were comfortable being close to humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Red-bellied Woodpecker <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The nest cavity is the lowest of the holes above.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the male Red-bellied Woodpecker <\/strong>perched at the top of the dead tree trunk. Note his distinct red head stripe and patterned back…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Below is the male in front of the nest hole, which had an opening about 3 inches wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The female Red-bellied Woodpecker <\/strong>looks different. She lacks the red coloration on top of her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Throughout the month of June, both male and female prepared the nest and incubated the eggs (from one to six). Often one parent was inside while the other remained outside…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eventually, a single head began to appear regularly at the cavity opening, although there were probably several nestlings inside, waiting to be fed…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here’s Mama Woodpecker on one of many feedings, transferring a berry to her offspring…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here’s the first fledgling to leave, bouncing among the nearby branches, having found a berry on its own…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In no time, the cavity was empty and nesting was completed. Abandoned nest cavities are often occupied by a new pair of birds, often of another species. Here’s a Carolina Chickadee <\/strong>inspecting one of the holes in the nest tree…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here are some other posts about woodpeckers<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n