Several weeks ago, I posted some of my favorite nature photographs in honor Nature Photography Week https://amylawscigeek.com/2024/06/10/nature-photography-week-day-2/, including one of a Red-shafted Northern Flicker poking it’s head out of a hole in an crabapple tree. In that post, I said that the tree was often considered for a nest by Flickers, but never used, because it is too close to the sidewalk.

I am happy to report that I was wrong!

When I was walking the dogs early in the morning last week, I heard Flickers nearby, making their “Cree! Cree! Cree!” call — it was obviously a demand of some sort. When I found them, there was the female Flicker hanging onto the bark next to the nest hole — and two heads sticking out of the hole itself.

She fed first one chick …

… then the other.

We’ve been by several times since I took these photos, and the chicks are still there. How did I miss three loud, noisy birds hanging around a suspiciously nest-shaped hole?

But they must be getting ready to fledge. If I’m lucky enough to catch them coming out for the first few times, I’ll be sure to share.