Florida Downy Woodpecker Family

[Second Hand Pat]

I was at my folks house yesterday helping with some chores and my dad showed me the hole in one of their oak trees which housed a Downy woodpecker family. These woodpeckers are small and fairly common but woodpecker have become fairly scarce so it was an honor to see these up close. The only parent seen in these pictures and videos is mom. Dad wears a small red cap on his head.

The house

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4813_zps5bb86a66.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4813_zps5bb86a66.jpg.html)
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4814_zps1ae248e6.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4814_zps1ae248e6.jpg.html)

[Second Hand Pat]

Mom feeding the babies

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4815_zps8943a982.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4815_zps8943a982.jpg.html)
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4816_zps674159e5.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4816_zps674159e5.jpg.html)
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4817_zps419faf72.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4817_zps419faf72.jpg.html)

[Second Hand Pat]

and more

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4818_zps6aa4eb69.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4818_zps6aa4eb69.jpg.html)
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4819_zpsac4315a4.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4819_zpsac4315a4.jpg.html)
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4820_zps64f64787.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Downy%20Woodpecker%20Family/DSC_4820_zps64f64787.jpg.html)

[Second Hand Pat]

While the pictures are cool, the videos are even better. You can hear the babies begging...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m-aFE5KRrQ

[Second Hand Pat]

and one more...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tE-WA-jujU

[pcsb23]

Nice pics Pat. We have woodpeckers near us, I hear them but rarely see them.

[sgchick]

Great videos. Lots of those guys in our area, but they have red on their head.

[Second Hand Pat]

Nice pics Pat. We have woodpeckers near us, I hear them but rarely see them.

Thanks Paul and know what you mean. These guys are quick. I had to sit at the base of the tree waiting for mom to return. My parents house is on a sort of busy street and I am sure the passing cars wondered what the heck I was doing lol. You can hear the traffic in the second video.

[Second Hand Pat]

Great videos. Lots of those guys in our area, but they have red on their head.

Thanks and yes, only the males have the red caps.

[sgchick]

Thanks and yes, only the males have the red caps.
Ohhh cool... Learn something new everyday. :-) and not only about discus! ;-)
Thanks Pat.

[Second Hand Pat]

Ohhh cool... Learn something new everyday. :-) and not only about discus! ;-)
Thanks Pat.

You are welcome sgchick :D

[DLFL]

That is pretty cool!

[SMB2]

Great shots. It is fun to watch the whole process as they raise their young.
Can't wait for the pics with all the chicks sticking their heads out the hole.

A nice group of wilds! Good photos and no water changes. Can't beat that.

[Second Hand Pat]

That is pretty cool!

Thanks Dick :D


Great shots. It is fun to watch the whole process as they raise their young.
Can't wait for the pics with all the chicks sticking their heads out the hole.

A nice group of wilds! Good photos and no water changes. Can't beat that.

Thanks Stan, my dad reported that the hole with the babies is now empty. Hopefully the babies left to learn to fly. I wish I could document the process but my parents are about an hour away.

[Disgirl]

Wonderful pics Pat! We have Downey's here too but have never seen a nest hole in a tree. They eat at our feeders. I would love to see the babies in the hole.
Barb

[Disgirl]

Wonderful pics Pat! We have Downey's here too but have never seen a nest hole in a tree. They eat at our feeders. I would love to see the babies in the hole.
Barb

[Second Hand Pat]

Barb, even my dad has only seen this one nest hole and he is 82, a native Floridian and has been outside his whole life.