Given the dire state of the world, I thought to begin the New Year with something attractive: A photo sequence of a pileated woodpecker family.
The photos include the pileated father and his three children (two girls and one boy). I expect the pileated mother was around, but I didn’t have the opportunity to photograph her.
Perhaps I should have expected that children were about, because a male pileated woodpecker made frequent stops at my suet feeder throughout July. (The male is distinguished by the red mustache parallel with his bill; the female’s mustache is black.)
The first of the pileated children to appear was a boy (the juvenile’s crest is that much lighter than an adult’s crest).
Father and son unite bills and the kid is fed.
The pileated boy was always hungry.
The three children stayed as close as possible to dad (leftmost, girl; center, girl; rightmost, boy).
One of the two pileated girls patiently waiting.
The other girl is also waiting.
Dad feeds a kid.
A hungry pileated woodpecker child.
Dad is on hand with a load of suet.
Feeding continues.
The pileated dad flaps to the suet feeder while a child waits.
The pileated dad sharing the suet feeder with a blue jay.
Dad returns to feed one of his children.
Anywhere on the tree was suitable for a feeding situation.
That all occurred back in July to August 2020. I expected the pileated family to return the following year, but whereas I have seen solitary pileated woodpeckers go to the suet feeder, there haven’t been any more family gatherings. Perhaps next year?
How good to remember this devoted family. The images are so close and clear that I feel as if I am being introduced to them. Pileated woodpeckers are remarkable to behold and this family shows us why. Mom needn’t worry; dad is doing a spectacular job.
I only wish I had put a page about the amazing family earlier, but I am glad you’ve enjoyed this one.