Lesson taught

I've been seeing as many downy woodpeckers as hummers at my hummingbird feeders lately. I assumed it was just a single downy that couldn't get enough of the sugary drinks, but the other day while it was raining I got proof that it's at least two.

This juvenile (on the left) was being taught by its parent how exactly to work this liquid candy machine.

***

Let's jump back a few minutes and listen in on their conversation, okay?

"OKAY JUNIOR, YOU CAN LAND NOW -- IT'S ALL CLEAR!"

"I AM here papa! I landed on the thing like you said!"

"No, no. Land on the TOP so you can get your beak into these holes..."

"Like this Junior.  Slurp! It's easy! I thought you were
old enough to handle this..."

"Junior STOP GOOFING AROUND and drink out of the holes like I showed you!"

"I AM doing it papa. I am NOT goofing around.
I don't know why you keep saying I'm not doing it
and that I keep goofing around because
I AM DOING IT and I'M NOT GOOFING AROUND!"

"slurp...sluurrpp... sluuuurrrrppp"

"Yummy, yummy, yum!  Urgh, all of this sugar is making me dizzy..."

"Whoops!  I'm okay -- I'm okay!"

"I'm just... urk... trying....to...ack...get a...better...position...urk"

"Okay over there Junior?"
"Yes papa I'm fine! I didn't fall off! Because I'm doing it like you told me
and I'm not goofing around at all and didn't fall off.
I'm really good at this papa!" 

"I AM old enough to handle this, and am going to hold on extra tight..."

Welcome young woodpecker -- I hope I'll be seeing you again soon!

"Who said that?"

Now if only the hummingbirds would share like this...

.