I'm Hungry, Mom!

I was fortunate to see this female Northern Flicker fledgling and her mother having an interesting interaction today. Ms. Fledgling politely let her mother know how hungry she was (see first two extra photos), and then made it crystal-clear that she was HUNGRY (today's blip).

Mom, who had been enjoying the suet and seed cake in the high feeder and ignoring her daughter -- who was nearly as big as she was -- shared a bit of the suet cake with her. I caught this in the third extra photo, in which you'll see the mother bird's eye protected against the fledgling's sharp beak by a special membrane, and the tip of her two-inch tongue as she gives her demanding daughter a little snack.

Clearly that was insufficient, as Ms. Fledgling expressed her displeasure with what looked like a major tantrum (fourth extra photo) and her mother flew off, seeking peace and quiet.

Watching these birds and the many others that come to our feeders provides a welcome distraction from the continuous circus in Washington DC, led by the so-called President of the United States. 

Blip 2017