Female Downy Woodpecker

While in my back yard this summer, I became aware of an unusual and repetitive bird call.  At the suet feeder was a female Downy Woodpecker.  She was not as flighty as usual.  She continued to make her intermittant call nearly oblivious to my presence.  As my eyes searched the surrounding fence and trees, I saw a second Downy Woodpecker, certainly as big as the female.  The second one stayed on the post of the fence.  Finally, in desperation, the female took a bit of suet in her beek and flew to the one on the post.  You guessed it.  The female was trying to coax her fledgling baby to come to the feeder to get his own suet.  It took two full days before the fledging finally started to go to the feeder himself!  Even mother birds have to be consistant and diligent with their children!

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