Newly Fledged Downy Woodpecker and his first solo visit to the suet feeder

Photo Submission

Submitted By

Nikki Buchalski

East Brunswick, NJ, USA

Description

We had a pair of Downy Woodpeckers visit the feeders daily from the Fall to the Spring. It was such a nice surprise when the female brought her newly fledged offspring to the suet feeders. At first she took the food to him while he waited in a tree nearby; next she fed him while both were on the suet feeder. It only took a short while for her to show him the ropes, and he eventually ventured out on his own and started feeding daily. This photo shows the first time he fed on his own.