Now, lest you read the title of the post and immediately start humming a Christmas tune in the beginning of June (and no judgment at all if you did!) – the “most wonderful time of the year” I’m referring to is baby bird season!
And the most recent batch of babies to visit the backyard was a trio of Red-bellied Woodpeckers! These not-so-cute youngsters followed Dad to the feeders the other day, all perched in different places.
Dad dropped in and grabbed some some food from the feeding trough, and then flew off to a tree at the edge of the yard, at which point all three of his little ones flew off after him in pursuit of the peanut he was carrying!
After about four or five trips, Dad began letting them stay closer to be fed. I think he was getting tired!
I have to say, feeding baby birds, especially those of the pointy beak variety, is not for the faint of heart!
I wonder which birds will be the next to bring their little ones to the backyard feeders.
Backyard Bird Nerd 
For birding, it is. Well said. Great captures!
Thank you!
Great captures Kathy, what a delight to behold 😊
It never gets boring, does it!
The peanut looks so big for his beak.
I know! He usually takes it to a nook or cranny in a tree branch and breaks it apart.
What if you break for them?
(just asking)
Never really thought about that!
🙂
At the park where the birds like to be fed I almost always run into a dad/child pair.
Well that was weird, the comment demanded to be posted by shivering up and down even though I wasn’t ready! Anyway. I usually see a dad/child pair of red bellied woodpeckers…I’ve never seen a mom/child pair of that bird. I wonder if mom retires after the littles leave the nest? Boy, though, your daddy bird was busy with THREE! I’ve only ever seen one baby to one daddy ratio. Was your daddy an equal opportunity feeder, making sure everybody got some?
He tried to feed all three, but the squeaky wheel did get the grease!
“What is so rare as a day in June, then if ever come perfect days”, wrote the poet, James Russell Lowell. It is truly a most wonderful time of the year – one of them. Especially for watching the baby birds through your camera lens, Kathy. What dear woodpecker intimate family scenes. What funny little fellows the young’uns are! How charming their suppertime scenes with papa serving.
What a perfect quote!
Awww, so very wonderful!! (And, yes, I did and am still humming a xmas song….😉)
Love it!