OPEN WIDE

I’d been keeping an eye on a Northern Flicker (woodpecker) nest I discovered earlier this spring. I first spotted the freshly carved cavity when I noticed a pile of wood chips at the base of a tree—clear signs of new nesting activity.

A couple of weeks ago, my two grandsons and I returned to check on the nest. As we neared the tree, we could hear the chicks inside—but it wasn’t a sweet, gentle chirping. Instead, a loud, frenzied buzzing erupted from the cavity. If threatened, Northern Flicker chicks will buzz in unison, producing a sound remarkably similar to an angry swarm of honeybees. Researchers believe this defense is meant to scare off predators like squirrels by mimicking a hive of stinging insects.

My grandsons and I looked at each other, startled—eyes wide, mouths agape. We quickly backed away, not wanting to stress the chicks further.

That was all the motivation I needed to set up my camera at a respectful distance last week to film these remarkable birds. While this photo shows three chicks—one male and two females—I captured another moment with four little heads poking out of the hole.

It seems their hatching coincided with a broader burst of new life. On an evening walk last week, Roxanne and I visited a Western Kingbird nest I’d been monitoring. Sure enough, as we approached, we spotted tiny open mouths reaching upward—they had just hatched!

A large dragonfly has been prepared for delivery by this Western Kingbird.

The chick on the far right chokes down a meal that appears much too large. The dragonfly is longer than him! Somehow he found space in that tiny body.

And then another nest with newly hatched Violet-Green Swallows.

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!

I was so blessed with Roxanne’s perspective that evening I asked her to share it with you too.

On a recent walk, I paused to watch newly hatched birds in their nest—tiny mouths wide open, instinctively sensing their parents returning with food.

What struck me was how tirelessly the parent birds worked—flying back and forth, completely focused on the needs of their young. They seemed consumed with caring for them.

It reminded me of the tender care of our gracious Father, whose eye is always on us, whose thoughts toward us outnumber the grains of sand.

I thought of Jesus’ words: “Look at the birds of the air… your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (from Matthew 6:26-27)

And the verse came to mind: “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)

He fills it with what we truly need—good things that nourish, strengthen, and grow us.

If He placed such devotion in birds, how much more can I trust Him with my own heart and hunger?

Watching those little lives, I was moved again by the faithful, generous love of Jesus. I am seen, I am loved, and I can trust Him completely.

I waited an hour and a half to capture this inspirational video of these Northern Flicker chicks being fed by their mother.

“Eagerly Waiting”