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There are two trees in the front yard that have been attracting woodpeckers. One is a crab apple tree on which I have been hanging my feeders. The trunk of this tree has suffered extensive pecking damage. I think the hairies, downies, and to a lesser extent the redbellies, are problably responsible for the death of one of its major branches.

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The second one is the mountain ash that I had planted in the middle of the front lawn when I first moved into the house 20 odd years ago. I thought the red berries would attract birds, but the tree, hemmed in by larger trees, never really thrived, growning tall and spindly instead. Many of the upper branches have died. I am sure the yellow-bellied sapsuckers that seemed to be particulary attracted to that tree are largely responsible. They damage the tree trunk by drilling round well holes into it that look like pockmarks.

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
Eventually we are probably doing to lose the trees, but in the meantime they provide sustenance to the woodpeckers.
It's been very busy around the feeders: beside the woodpeckers, a family of rose-breasted grosbeaks with at least four by now almost fully grown fledglings, grackles, northern cardinals, goldfinches, red-winged blackbirds, mourning doves, blue jays, various sparrows, an immature brown thrasher, titmice and white-breasted nuthatches. There are a couple of crow families with youngsters in the large trees surrounding our property, and even an occasional raven. There must be a raven nest somewhere in the neighborhood. I hear their deep croaks when they fly over but am always too late for a photo.
Wow! I love this post!! Your trees really are woodpecker friendly...and look at the woodpeckers you've attracted! Beautiful pileated shot. You're so lucky to have one in your yard! My parents had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in their yard for years, but one has never visited out here. Beautiful photo...love his little sap wells.
ReplyDeletep.s. I didn't get to say Thank You! for mentioning my willow tree. It was very cool to see your link! Also...I liked the visual of the Henslow's Sparrow's song. I love his little cricket song. We have a meadow about 10 mins from my house and there are at least 5 there right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelly. You are so generous. You are lucky to have so many Henslow's sparrows. Our sparrow in Montague was such a rarity that birders from all over NE traveled to see it. Poor fellow, he was way outside of his territory and probably never found a mate.
ReplyDeletegreat photos - and it was great also talking with you last night about cameras and birding. I am just beginning to get the workings of my 50d under control
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Julie
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