Red Headed woodpeckers May 1st to August 1st 2013

For 13 years I have had these beautiful birds at my house. 2010 I got to monitor their nesting sight. Last year I think they lost their first nest and nested again. Having young ones very late and migrating with those young while still feeding in the trees. This year everything is right on time. 2 arrived back May 1st. Then a 3rd one showed up. Chasing, calling, drumming. It was incredible. Then one disappeared. Nesting female. However the 3rd one still kept showing up once in a while. And the 2 would start all over again with the mate drumming on our chimney cap over and over again. It was quite the noise from inside the house. And became my daily ritual with him. 6:30 am like clock work he would start drumming on the chimney cap. Through out the day in the evening. Then it would stop and all was quiet again. Then it would start as the 3rd guy showed up again. Been quite the experience. Then one day July 23rd,the 3 adults were here and falling over each other at the feeder. Getting food and leaving with it. Then  heard that familiar little voice in the trees. I couldn't see them ,but they were there. The baby red headed woodpeckers were out in our world.  On the 19th ,just a few days before we had the worst storm go through and the threat of tornados. Winds were fierce and trees toppled everywhere. I feared the worst for these nesting birds. So when I heard this little voice and saw all this action by the adults. I was thrilled. Then on July 28th, I saw my first babe. Sitting there on the wire at the side of my house . Then the adult landed beside it. On August 1st,I saw 2 babes and heard a 3rd. One thing different this year is that that 3rd adult is actually now helping with the young fledglings. Possibly last years young. I have never had that happen before so is a new experience with these birds. One adult to every babe. Amazing behavior. And yes. The drumming in the chimney cap has begun once again on and off. They are venturing out further now but still showing up in our trees and at the feeders throughout the day at some point. Usually here early every morning. All 5 birds. Most of my photos are taken through my windows. So as not to disturb their feeding times. I sure will miss my wake up call when fall arrives and this family goes south. It really has been an amazing summer with them.