20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Common Merganser coming out of Pileated Woodpecker hole.
I spent 5 hours photographing this Pileated Woodpecker hole, watching both parents coming in to feed the last remaining baby. Much to my amazement, a Common Merganser came out of the hole, leaving the baby still inside. Dad immediately flew over and peered inside the hole. The Merganser poked it's head out, and for a few seconds the two birds were beak-to-beak. Shortly after that, the Merganser flew off. Several hours later the baby fledged the nest.
Photo Detail
Date Taken: | 06.2020 |
Date Uploaded: | 11.2022 |
Photo Location: | South Hampton, New Hampshire, New Hampshire, United States of America |
Camera: | NIKON D5 |
Copyright: | © Katherine Davis |