Exchanging places in the nest cavity can be a dicey endeavor for either parent.
- I’ve posted 2 two of the 5 images below in the past but I wanted to include them here in order to better tell the story. The photos were taken 4 years ago near the border of southwest Montana and Idaho. They aren’t sequential, instead they’re a mish-mash of photos taken during different feeding trips to the nest cavity – in fact sharp eyes may notice that one of them was taken with a different camera and lens than the others.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This female Williamson’s Sapsucker and her mate were raising chicks in their nest cavity in this aspen tree. While delivering food, usually it was ants, to the chicks they nearly always followed the same routine. They would land on the side of the tree a little less than 2′ below the cavity entrance, pause there for a few moments, and then fly straight up the trunk to the entrance as she’s doing here. In this shot she had just barely hooked her claws over the entrance hole and her wings are still out (yes, I do wish I hadn’t clipped her left wing!). Both parents usually followed the same routine when delivering food to the youngsters.
Notice that she has a beak-full of ants for her chicks.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM @ 400mm, not baited, set up or called in
When they would leave the cavity in search of more ants they came out as if they were shot from a gun. When trying to photograph them leaving they were so fast I got more “air shots” than I care to think about and I think I have pretty quick reflexes.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
More often than not one parent was already in the cavity when the second adult arrived. They would sometimes spend quite a while in there, chipping away at the cavity to make it larger as the chicks grew (I could hear them hammering away), or cleaning up wood chips or fecal sacs to take out when they left. If one parent arrived with food while the other one was still inside one of them had to vamoose because there wasn’t sufficient room in there for 2 adults and the chicks. As you can see she has a huge load of ants to deliver.
The exchange of places was tricky. And I’m convinced, even a little hazardous.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
The adult on the outside of the hole nearly always leaned far to one side or the other to make room for the other exiting parent. That lean was essential considering the explosive speed and expanding wings of the exiting bird. A bird leaving that fast and opening its wings at the same time demanded consideration for the uncomfortable and possibly even dangerous collision that could occur.
But twice I photographed the male trying a different tack and he almost paid the price.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Instead of leaning far to one side he tried ducking down to avoid that speeding bullet and it almost didn’t go well. Given the position of his head and beak in this shot I can’t imagine that her belly didn’t at least graze him as she went by and maybe even worse than that (yup, more clipped wings).
If you ask me that’s cutting it way too close.
Ron
I have watched tree swallows do this and wondered why- do you think it is because at this stage the young are so vulnerable to predators? With the swallows there was a sparrow hanging about nearby.
Love seeing this behavior, and of course the excellent photos. My reflexes have never been good enough to catch this kind of action! Thanks.
Thank you, Deedee. Thankfully that’s one thing I have going for me.
Parenting is not easy. If the kids don’t kill you, your co-parent might.
Incredible series. And behaviour.
Thanks Ron.
You’re right about both of those scenarios, EC. Thank you.
“i’m outta here!” I can sympthathize with the “exiter”…with a small house and four kids, I often felt the same way, but had no where to go…often feel the same way now, just for different reasons…
I’ll bet you do, Patty. Hang in there, friend.
Hugs.
Very fine work documenting this feeding behavior, Ron. Well done.
Thanks very much, Ricardo.
Quite a bit of treachery for these birds. Totally amazed that the male could avoid an accident of some sort. Those ants look “delicious” to me this morning! Glad the little birds enjoy them.
Hope you are feeling better both physically and mentally, these days. Getting old requires toughness!
Thank you, Ron for interesting photos and verbiage.
“Getting old requires toughness”
Boy, isn’t that the truth! Thanks, Alice.
This procedure must have been amazing to watch. Thanks for letting us go along for the ride. Looks to me like the female was smarter than the male… 😀
It was amazing, Susan. I watched it many, many times and it never got old.
Outstanding photos Ron, and outstanding reflexes for an old guy. As he exploded out he yelled “Outta my way sucker.” Beautiful Sunday here and hope it there as well. All we need is rain. 🙂
Everett Sanborn
Prescott AZ
That’s one of the few things I’ve retained from my younger years, Everett – my reflexes. Yup, nice day here too.
Amazing series Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
WOW! That DID appear to be a close call! 🙂 It is interesting how they hook “a” claw in the hole – looks precarious to me! 😉 Wonderful shots, Ron. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. I was always impressed by how well they could hold on to that vertical trunk, even when there was no hole to grab on to.
Most interesting photos! ‘Close encounters of a dangerous kind’ for sure. Looking at a hole in a tree never tells the whole story…one would never suspect the drama the goes on within the walls. The size required to raise the family plus one; nature is amazing if we take the time to study it. Thanks Ron for capturing these moments for us to ponder! 😊
You make a good point about the cavity having stories we can’t even imagine, Kathy – including but not limited to defense of the cavity from other birds. During breeding season those cavities are at a premium in the forest.
Fascinating! And dangerous. It looks like the lean is mightier than the duck for avoiding a collision. His foot is barely holding on in that last shot. Animal behaviors never cease to amaze me. These are fabulous shots — clipped wings and all.
Yeah, he had some difficulty holding on when he ducked down like that. Thanks, Marty (wow, you’re up early…).
The joys of insomnia…This “early bird” is going for bagels later — no worms for me! 😉
Ron’s shots are some consolation for insomnia though. I hope your bagel(s) are DELICIOUS.
I had a delicious bagel (one’s my limiit — I’m driving 😉 ) this morning and then went to volunteer at the animal shelter all day. A fantabulous day all around! 😀
Glad to hear it. I have been wrestling (again) with the computer, visited a friend in hospital and hand fed King Parrots. A mixed bag, leaning towards the positive.