Fledgling Red-bellied Woodpecker

Walking the dogs, Willow the Italian Greyhound cross, found what I believe is a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker, fresh out of the nest hole.

Based on location found, it may be hatched out of one of the hollow tree-limb birdhouses I put up a year or two ago. It was no more than 20 feet away.

I got the chick away from the dog (no damage, and a *very* animated chick). I then sussed out what to do using an Amazon box (mulch and sticks on the bottom), which I placed on top of my car, safe from raccoons, possums, fox, black rat snakes, and hawks.

Mom will be close by, and I have other cars to drive. Woodpeckers are box or tree hollow nesters, and an Amazon box is going to feel familiar.

It's almost 6 pm now, and we have a parade of predators that come through the yard every evening. Night is a very dangerous time for a fledgling on the ground.

If the chick is still in the box tomorrow morning, it will get a limb ladder out, and the box will get placement in a high tree.