Pileated Woodpecker of Spears Woods

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Over the course of two weeks in late spring, we watched a mother and father pileated woodpecker feed and care for their two young chicks in a nest hole. Initially, the adults would enter the tree to feed the hatchlings. Eventually, the two chicks would peek out of the opening in anticipation of the parents coming home with food. One morning we patiently watched for any sign of the family, and soon we realized that the chicks had fledged. The family was now flying in the skies of Spears Woods. Parents teaching children how to survive in the forest.

Father pileated woodpecker regurgitates its partially digested food directly into the baby’s beak.
Three pileated woodpeckers, two adults and and infant, at a nesting hole. The infant opens its beak as it prepares for a meal from the father. The mother keeps guard.
A pileated woodpecker at its nesting hole. Its two babies heads are sticking out of the nesting holw. All three woodpeckers are looking out into the blue sky.
Black with white stripes, flaming-red crest a pileated woodpecker prepares to feed its two chicks at its nest hole.
A pileated woodpecker prepares to land on a tree nears its nesting hole. Its baby woodpecker cries in joy awaiting for a meal from its mother.
Black with white stripes, flaming-red crest, a pileated woodpecker floats in the blue sky toward its nest hole. Its chicks cry out for food as she approaches.