Can't seem to get away from writing about the Red-bellied Woodpecker that daily visits the white birch tree in my side yard. There, with dozens of Blue Jays, it vies for the black-oil sunflower seeds that I daily distribute at base of said tree and half a dozen or more other locations throughout the yard, including the feeders. (Image courtesy of Charles H. Warren.)
As you might recall from an earlier post (12/27), this season several dozen Blue Jays have designated my yard "Chow-down City" and each morning fly in groups from surrounding territories to spend the day gobbling up the seeds and bullying any bird in their way--except for one:
The Red-bellied Woodpecker
This lone male, with flaming red cap and nape and bold black striping on his back, is gorgeous to watch among the crowding jays. But more intriguing ... though somewhat smaller than the jay, this spunky fellow takes no nonsense from these aggressive, noisy birds. If anything, he intimidates them!
While other smaller and more timid birds scatter like leaves on the approach of even one jay, this woodpecker remains rooted while even a squadron lands about him. And beware the foolish jay who thinks to push aside his smaller neighbor. This flame-headed woodpecker pounces and the surprised "bully" jumps backward in surprise.
But I'm being too tough on my friends, the Blue Jays. After all I like them exactly as they are--showy, noisy, even bossy. And they, too, have their own troubles. On Christmas day, a birder and member/officer of the Juniata Valley Audubon, Stan Kotala, reported on the fate of one unfortunate jay. Seems a Cooper's Hawk swooped down through the branches of a massive red oak toward birds at a feeder and, as he posted it, "quickly sank its talons into the back of a blue jay that was frantically trying to escape."
Sigh.
So let's all live it up while we can! And till next time . . . keep birds in your heart.
Georgia Anne
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