This spring I discovered a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers building a nest, and I kept track of them since the excavation phase. Unfortunately, something must have happened to the female after hatching the babies. I never saw her again. However, the male was heroic as a solo parent. I would watch him tirelessly bring wads of insects and spruce budworms to the hungry kids. The babies finally poked their heads out, feeding continued, and I was present when two of the little one's vacated the nest to follow their dad into the woods. We have been seeing a few of the young ones around yet into the fall as they are working to develop their adult plumage. It was such an amazing experience to witness this. Job well done, Papa Sapsucker!
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker female
Nest excavation in progress
Male Sapsucker removing wood chips from the nest
More wood chip removal
Male bringing food to the nest
Bringing more food
Young Sapsucker moments before the bailout
Fledgling's first excursion out of the nest
Immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Another immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
