Thursday, May 15, 2008

What We Saw In a Hole In a Tree

It's was about the time when I was supposed to be making dinner, evening time, when Alex called me over to see what he saw.


Can you see what's popping in and out of that hole? He pointed to the Eucalyptus in the neighbor's yard. And, without glasses, I scanned the entire length of the tree, squinting to see a something popping or a hole. Then I detected movement, and I ran in the house to get my glasses. Couldn't find my glasses, but had a better thought and grabbed my camera! So, can you see something popping in and out of a hole in the eucalyptus tree? It's way up high.


No, not that high. A little lower.


Where the fore branch crooks to the right.


That's the spot. We could hear something too. A hungry chirping, a pleading little song that carried all over both yards, down the street and even into the house. I realized I had been hearing it for days.


Aha! Here he is. The little cheep.


And he is calling for someone. Looking for someone.


He looked up, and he looked down. He slipped back into his nest, then came popping back out chirping and calling, Where's my dinner? Where's my dinner? I am no ornithologist, but that is what my mother ears heard... feed me, feed me! I know that call well.


And suddenly dinner appeared, and did baby get a mouthful! Poppa and Momma flew in with beaks full of some kind of Woody feast.


It was Alex that figured out that it was a baby boy they were trying to keep fed. He does look just like his redtop pop. And almost as big, but we could tell he was still a downy little ball. Small, maybe, but with an appetite. Max, Alex, Maria and I watched for a long time. The mother and father woodpeckers came at regular intervals to feed their son, and as the sun began to slip, my children asked about our dinner.


Maybe today we will set up chairs and a tripod. We could take our dinner outdoors, dine with the neighbors. After school and cleaning, errands and more chores, maybe I can find my camera manual and learn how to focus and take faraway pictures. I know these aren't too spectacular, but they capture the essence, they remind us of the thrill we felt.


It was hard to tear ourselves away!

17 comments:

Tracy said...

Oh, sooo sweet...mamma woodpecker and her baby!! What a beautiful sight...and your photos capture the "suspense" so well. The captivation distractions of spring go on and on each day...enjoy while they're here! Happy Day & ((HUGS))

nikkipolani said...

Whatever are you talking about? These are fab photos! And you got right in there with your zoom and captured dinnertime with your neighbors. Wonderful!

Natalie said...

Ah, thank you. I know, I have Audubon-National Geo. photography aspirations. A tripod would be an easy improvement.

amy smith said...

NATALIE!!!! Those are incredible! What an honor to see such a feast! I would love to have dinner outside with you and your neighbors! (And just think, if you weren't right there in your cute little rental, you would have never seen such beauty!) :)

Missy said...

What a treat! The sound of pecking woodpeckers is my favorite spring sound when we air out the house. Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos.

blessings

village mama said...

What an amazing photo essay!!!!!

Lesley said...

Woodpeckers? I'm so excited — I didn't know we had them here. Thanks for the lovely photos - now i know what to look for!

campbellgirl said...

What good eyes that boy has! Lovely pictures - I think you're a natural story-teller, Natalie.

YayaOrchid said...

What a great post! The pictures are amazing! I had to smile when I read your description of your 'mother' ears interpretation. Yes, don't we all know what that's like :)

Laura Jane said...

Wow Natalie what great photos - and without a tripod too!

They are really special - thanks for sharing them, and for the story too!

Mama Spark said...

Great powers of observation! The pics are great too. Looks kind of like the Downey woodpecker we have here in Michigan. Hope you enjoyed dinner with the *neighbors*!

gloria said...

ES UNA RICURA ESTAS FOTOS!!!
QUE BIEN LO HAZ NARRADO EN FOTOGRAFÍAS!!!
ME ENCANTÓ REALMENTE ME FASCINÓ!!!
GRAIAS NATALIE ♥ TE QUIERO AMIGA

¿QUE CÁMARA USAS QUE TOMA TAN LINDO?

calamitykim said...

that is really neat! we have a woodpecker who lives next door in a hole in a palm.
I can't load the film- must wait for my admin husband to do that for me. I gotta go! No time to play but I wanted to see Maria in her apron. I am making her another that is from a new pattern I just got! bawk!
be back sunday

Claudia said...

AWESOME, thanks for sharing that with us! What a GREAT way to witness love and nature right up close.

Carole said...

Very awesome photos! Thank you for sharing.

Sara said...

That is so amazing...what great photos you have taken too. That little one looks like he's almost ready to fly the coop...

Tarie said...

Whoa, amazing pictures. How'd you do that?!