Pic of the Day

Gila Woodpecker, Melanerpes uropygialis:  Gilbert Water Ranch: Gilbert, Arizona

     Adult male gila Woodpecker returning to nest in a saguaro cactus with a spider.  

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/4000 second @ f/7.1

Pic of the Day

Curved-billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre:

Gilbert Water Ranch; Gilbert, Arizona

Curved-billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre:

Gilbert Water Ranch; Gilbert, Arizona

     The Curved-billed Thrasher is another bird that takes advantage of the Saguaro fruit.  This thrasher had a nest tucked away on the arm of a Saguaro where it grows from the trunk.  The female was sitting on eggs, but both birds took time enjoying the Saguaro fruit.  

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/3200 sec. @ f9

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1600 sec. @ f9

Pic of the Day

Bringing home the grub!

     During the course of photographing a Gila Woodpecker at the Gilbert Water Ranch in Arizona, I had the opportunity to see the parent birds bringing a varitey of food to their nestling.   The male was the major provider,  bring morsals on an average of four times more often than the female. 

Gila Woodpecker - Melanerpes uropygialis, bringing seeds to nestlings 

     The female typically brought small spiders and what appeared to be seeds.  The male  brought a variety of different foods to the nest on a regular basis.  Like the female, the male brought the seed like food, but the male 
also brought larger spiders and other insects

Gila Woodpecker - Melanerpes uropygialis, bringing a spider to nestlings

     The male also brought large gurbs.  Usually every third or fourth trip included a large grub.  But the diet of the Gila woodpecker is not just seeds and insects.  

Gila Woodpecker - Melanerpes uropygialis, with grub 

     As the fruit of the Saguaro began to ripen the saguaro jelly became a staple as well.  I happen to hit the desert as the fruit was beginning to ripen.  Many birds were feeding on the saguaro fruit, and this Gila was certainly making a mess of it, bringing its beak filled to the brim with the jelly like fruit.

Gila Woodpecker - Melanerpes uropygialis, bringing saguaro fruit  to nestlings.

Note:  Also see post for July 2, 2013

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, on tripod