Cheep cheep *nom gulp* cheep

[primsong]

We have some poplars along our drive that belong to a neighbor whose lack of monetary resources means they are dead and have been for some time, sitting like that giant W from 'mad mad world'. Everytime I walk down the drive I hear them creaking even though they are embedded firmly in their companion trees and not likely to fall.

So - I am working my way down the drive spraying for weeds with my old friend the backpack sprayer when I hear creak creak creak cheep cheep creak cheep cheep cheep and look up to realize one of the old trunks has some neat woodpecker holes in it and there are both upstairs and downstairs woodpecker nests going!

I stood and watched as the mom and dad woodpeckers flew back and forth bringing food for their hungry broods, couldn't see the babies but sure could hear them, so adorable. There's something to be said for neat yards and taking down dead trees, etc. but there's certainly a place for a touch of natural nesting as well, just wonderful.

Comments

woodpeckers

[chytha.livejournal.com]

We occasionally have woodpeckers in our area. The first time I saw and heard one I thought the bird was cuckoo because it sounded like a street sign was being hammered on. Turns our the young bird was pecking away at the signpost, very near the top of the metal sign.
Since then I have heard a few more, some metal rattling and some wood thumps, all too far away to see, but clear to hear.
I also once saw a couple adult woodpeckers in the woods when I worked on Mercer Island on Lake Washington. Brilliant color and a thrill to see.
Neat that you saw them so close to you. Biggest birds we get in our yard are the occasional jaybirds, which are neat to see even if they are piggish in their eating habits :)