Well, this was completely unexpected!
Jun 7, 2022 03:31:39 #
This is the dead ash tree in our front yard that has been the site of so much drama this summer. A Red-Bellied Woodpecker pair started excavating the nest hole at the very top of the tree around the end of March.
A pair of European Starlings took it over for a few days, followed by a family of flying squirrels who moved in next. It was the middle of April when the woodpeckers started seriously trying to reclaim it.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-735706-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-739103-1.html
RBWPsNestTree05Jun2022A by Marshall Smith, on Flickr
This is the female RBWP on her way up to her newly reclaimed nest.
FemaleRBWP_CheckingTheNest_30May2022A by Marshall Smith, on Flickr
I've read that the female will lay one egg a day until she has a full clutch of usually four eggs, and they don't begin to incubate them until all are laid. Both parents sit on the nest, with the male usually taking the night shift.
MaleRBWP_Calling_01Jun2022_096 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr
So for the last week or so I've only seen the male, coming to the nest several times a day, looking, then flying off somewhere.
I had it in my head that they had a full clutch by now and were incubating their eggs, taking turns sitting them.
I was expecting the grey forehead of a female Red-Bellied to peek out for a break. Instead I got this...
Birds05Jun2022_271 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr
THEY'RE BACK!
And to add insult to injury, a few moments later, this:
PairOfFlyingSquirrels_05Jun2022_310 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr
The day after this bombshell the male woodpecker came by for a cursory check. He looked into the nest but stayed less than 30 seconds then flew off.
MaleRBWP_LeavingTree06Jun2022 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr
The future of these two animal families is literally "up in the air." I'll keep everyone posted on further developments.
Marshall
A pair of European Starlings took it over for a few days, followed by a family of flying squirrels who moved in next. It was the middle of April when the woodpeckers started seriously trying to reclaim it.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-735706-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-739103-1.html
RBWPsNestTree05Jun2022A by Marshall Smith, on FlickrThis is the female RBWP on her way up to her newly reclaimed nest.
FemaleRBWP_CheckingTheNest_30May2022A by Marshall Smith, on FlickrI've read that the female will lay one egg a day until she has a full clutch of usually four eggs, and they don't begin to incubate them until all are laid. Both parents sit on the nest, with the male usually taking the night shift.
MaleRBWP_Calling_01Jun2022_096 by Marshall Smith, on FlickrSo for the last week or so I've only seen the male, coming to the nest several times a day, looking, then flying off somewhere.
I had it in my head that they had a full clutch by now and were incubating their eggs, taking turns sitting them.
I was expecting the grey forehead of a female Red-Bellied to peek out for a break. Instead I got this...
Birds05Jun2022_271 by Marshall Smith, on FlickrTHEY'RE BACK!
And to add insult to injury, a few moments later, this:
PairOfFlyingSquirrels_05Jun2022_310 by Marshall Smith, on FlickrThe day after this bombshell the male woodpecker came by for a cursory check. He looked into the nest but stayed less than 30 seconds then flew off.
MaleRBWP_LeavingTree06Jun2022 by Marshall Smith, on FlickrThe future of these two animal families is literally "up in the air." I'll keep everyone posted on further developments.
Marshall
Jun 7, 2022 03:38:25 #
Jun 7, 2022 06:28:24 #
Jun 7, 2022 06:53:18 #
Interesting. I had a pair of Starlings take up residency in my grill. I was advised to dismantle the nest and crush the eggs, as they are an invasive species. Needless to say I couldn't do that. They had 4 healthy offspring and I had my grill back.
Jun 7, 2022 08:59:00 #
Architect1776 wrote:
Nice
Nice
Seems like that is high value real-estate.
Jun 7, 2022 09:09:19 #
Jun 7, 2022 09:53:03 #
Great set. I have many dead trees on my property from the two hurricanes two years ago but don't have any residents.
Jun 8, 2022 07:31:14 #
Jun 8, 2022 08:10:07 #
bluezzzzz wrote:
This is the dead ash tree in our front yard that h... (show quote)
a big surprise i imagine...lol...good job getting the cute shots ...looking forward to the next shots.
Jun 8, 2022 08:12:08 #
Jun 8, 2022 08:56:29 #
What great shots. The babies looking out of the nest are really good. Lucky to be at that location and capture the action.
Jun 8, 2022 09:04:13 #
Jun 8, 2022 10:44:36 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
Excellent set showing the drama of the nesting hole! Frankly, I’m hoping the squirrels win out just because they are so darn cute!
Stan
Stan
Jun 8, 2022 11:03:08 #
Dalek wrote:
What great shots. The babies looking out of the nest are really good. Lucky to be at that location and capture the action.
Thanks, glad you liked them!
We have an excess of "normal" squirrels around the yard, so when I first saw a head poking out of that hole a month or so ago I didn't really know what I was seeing. Some internet research and I found they were "flying squirrels," native to our area and not too uncommon, but rarely seen.
Those two are full-size adults, and can be quite fierce when defending their spot. I was clearing some blow-down away from that tree and they decided to temporarily bail out. About the size, shape, and color of a piece of toast, when they are flattened out and airborne from one place to another. Their glide path seems to defy the laws of physics!
That spot is about 75 feet from our front door, and I've set up a patio chair under a young oak tree that is closer than that. I'm well set up for some future photos, whether it be woodpeckers or squirrels.
Marshall
Jun 8, 2022 11:05:50 #
Really enjoyed these. Love the one of the two flying squirrels peeking out.
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