Sapsucker Stories

We have enjoyed being able to observe this woodpecker family in a dead tree in the back yard. At first we thought they were downies, but before long it became apparent that we were seeing Mr and Mrs Yellow-bellied Sapsucker switching off the incubation of the eggs. How many were there? How long would it be before we saw youngsters?

Eventually they switched from incubation to feeding, and by mid-June the pace had picked up tremendously. The nest cavity emitted urgent cries for food constantly. Then finally, using not the front door nest cavity we’d been observing but a secret trap door to the roof, Youngster 1 emerged! #2 and #3 followed soon after, each one eventually taking off to sail to a nearby walnut tree. We saw 3 in all, but the mother appeared to still be feeding a 4th chick that didn’t launch till the next day.

We’re kind of in sapsucker withdrawal now, since they don’t return to hang out at the nest cavity. I spotted one yesterday, looking like a small piece of moving bark as it moved up a tree trunk. I trust they’re all making their way in the big, unprotected world now! Hopefully we’ll enjoy some sightings over the next few months.