Glad I could help!

The other day while standing at my work station I heard a thump. I looked out only to see a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker lying belly up. My first thought was "oh crap, it's dead". I ran out the door to check it out. She was still moving. I wasn't sure if this was the last few moments of her life or not. Her flying partner or mate was flying frantically around in circles.

Not sure what to do I gently scooped her up in my hands. She was blinking at me. I stroked her head very carefully while I checked her over. I kept speaking to her to calm her the best I could. I'm not a vet but I was looking for obvious things that could be wrong. I wasn't really sure what I would do if I found something.

I made the decision that she might have just knocked herself silly. I placed her in the shade out of harms way. At this point she was holding herself in an upright position, I felt this was also a good sign.

I continue to monitor her. I had to wait on a couple of customers' inside. When I was finally able to return to my little patient I slowly opened the door. As I stepped out... She looked at me and took off into flight. She made a quick reverse in her planned travels to make a quick circle around me. I'd like to think she circled me to say thanks.

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is part of the Woodpecker family. They are medium size with a red head. Males have red chin and females white.

They're diet consist of insects, tree sap & eating suet at suet feeders. These are the birds that drills holes in horizontal patterns around small to medium size trees. sapsuckers don't suck sap out of trees rather lap it out with their long tongs. Many other birds will drink from these holes as well. The dripping sap will also attract insects for there snacking pleasure.

The best I can figure is this little lady was after an insect and miss judged how close to the building she was. This is not a picture of the actual bird I helped, just an example.

If you enjoy watching the woodpecker family visit Chimes and Birds and pick out a suet feeder or platform feeder to place in your yard.
Enjoy those birds and help when you can!