Learning about yellow-bellied sapsuckers...

I saw this bird, for the first time, yesterday. I think it's a young yellow-bellied sapsucker. It looks like the photo in the book, anyway, but without the red markings.





After learning that sapsuckers make holes that drip sap and attract insects, I went and took a look at the tree and...yep, holes dripping sap and lots of insects!

My nephew and I were out in the front yard, talking with 2 of the neighbors and watching nervously as Alliant Energy chopped up one of their trees. Just in that short amount of time, I caught all of these little guys...none of them ruffled at all, by the noise...