Golden-Fronted Woodpecker
Ricardo Perez
Sounds like we're grandparents again! On Saturday, April 30, 2011 I could hear the faith sound of at least one hatchling from our Woodpecker's notched out hole which serves as their home for the spring and summer. By late afternoon the sound was much louder so I guess the hatchlings figured out that if they make enough noise they'll be fed. Both male and female are taking turns feed them by making non-stop rotations to their nest. It's interesting to see that they bring only the smallest of insects to feed their young and as they grow so will the size of their meals. Neither one spends much time in the nest except at dusk when they both enter for the night and exiting at dawn to start their feeding rotations.
Our woodpecker couple from last year have made it back to their hollow in a tree trunk by our bedroom. Last year they twice raised two pair of hatchlings. They returned on Good Friday and are taking turns going in and out as well as spending the night in their hollow. I'll keep this post updated on their progress. I think that they are the Golden-Fronted Woodpecker since the male only has a red cap on head verses the entire head and neck on the Red-Bellied Woodpecker. I'll check for more distinguishing marks as the spring progresses.