Nesting Hairy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus

Lakeshore North, Waterloo, ON

3 June 2013

    It always adds a little extra pleasure to a bird walk when one discovers breeding species. Thus it was this morning that we derived great satisfaction on noting this nest of Hairy Woodpecker. The pictures are a little distant, but we did not wish to approach too closely for fear of disrupting the feeding cycle. It appeared that both adults were engaged in a constant food run, and we could hear the hungry chicks inside the nest hole. We will continue to monitor this nest to see whether we can ultimately ascertain the outcome.

                             Adult about to leave the nest

                                                       Adult bringing food

                                                       Close up of nest hole