Posting 8 of 8 in this series of postings on the Pileated Woodpecker family. GO To http://www.pbase.com/hankvv/image/149565565 for the start of the series (1 of 8).

The last of the two young woodpeckers fledged June 14/15. I still saw both peeking out of the nest hole on June 12. I wasn't able to check on them again until late June 14. The male, as shown above, was still in the nest. It appeared about to launch itself out into the world beyond the nest. Note its talons are visible on the rim of the nest hole. The female was no longer in the nest. It, presumably, had left yesterday or earlier this day. The next morning (15th), the male had also left the nest. At that time I found only one of the adults near the nest tree and I was not able to spot the young.

Having watched these young being fed unseen at the bottom of the nest cavity for a couple of weeks, then with their heads poking out of the nest hole for another two weeks, I wondered how they would manage to fly as they, unlike many birds, would not have been able to exercise their wings within the confines of the cavity. Since I did not see either leave the nest, I can only assume that they instinctively know what to do when they catapult themselves from the nest. Perhaps they just glide to the nearest tree and hang on for dear life or they may just flutter to the ground from wench, encouraged by the adults, they might scramble up a tree ???

Note, this is my final posting for this family of Pileated Woodpeckers. For previous postings in these SERIES simply click "Next, Next...."