Another woodpecker success story, Part I/II

The recent success story of the Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus) family was heartwarming in view of the daily and intense attention it had to deal with.

It is hoped that this chapter will contribute to perpetuate the woodpecker population in the bukit.  

Both Bukit Kiara and TRK are certainly unique in that birders have been able to have, and still have, the rare treat of getting up close with the different species of woodpeckers found in these two parks. 

It was already into the first week of the first Movement Control Order (MCO) of the year when I received news of a pair of Rufous Woodpeckers building nest.  Fortunately the quiet site due to the park being closed augured well for the birds that had decided to build just along the roadside.

When I visited the spot for the first time, the pair was indeed seen to frequent their choice rotten tree, taking turns to excavate the cavity nest.

Just about five days later when the female was seen to enter the nest and not emerged for hours, it can be deduced that it's egg laying period.

The sign of chick or chicks came when a parent was seen to emerge with a fecal sac.

And by deduction it looked like egg laying and incubation period for the rufous woodpeckers was more than 25 days.

At approximately seven days old the chick could be seen near the hole entrance.

At this point it still couldn't be confirmed if there were one or two chicks.

At approximately 11 days old, the chick had grown tiny feathers.

At 15 days old, a pretty alert chick.

And sighting of a sibling chick.

About 18 days old now, visibly moulting.

20 days old, developing nice rufous colour, and snoozing at the entrance.  However, it was also possible to discern the stronger one.

23 days old and expected to fledge any time now which they did two days later, within hours of each other. 

And so, another chapter closed.

Recall the crimson-winged woodpeckers's nesting, this story was perhaps less imaginative because of the nature of the cavity nest whereby feeding of nestlings and fledglings, and housekeeping behaviours were clearly observed.

An interesting look at a couple of fecal sac sizes, which seemed to suggest the digestive capability of the chicks.

One of approximately a seven-day-old chick.

Of  an eight-day-old's.

Of an 11-day-old's.

Of an 18-day-old's.

Of a 23-day-old's.