Last winter I noticed a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker pecking on our 24 yr. old
flowering crabapple tree out front, so intent on it's work it wasn't at all
perturbed when I walked to within about 7' & watched as it pecked holes &
tore into the bark.
I thought it was just after something under the bark but in the spring I
looked more closely at the bark & saw a hole with a bit of sawdust. I was
able to take a long stalk of grass & push it completely down out of sight
into the hole!
I got a knife & cut into the bark & found that the inside of the limb was
hollowed out so the bird apparently could hear the insects inside & went
after them.
I've noticed in the pictures of trees that have gone down in storms that
many, if not most, show hollow core ... rotted, hollow or punky yet on the
outside the trees have looked perfectly healthy.
Marie, your great pictures of the pileated show something that many are not
aware of ... oblong feeding hole .... round nesting hole. Inded, I didn't
know that until just a couple yrs. ago. Thanks.
On Frontenac Island yesterday I saw 5 bald eagles in the trees & one on the
ice eating something. Two GBB Gulls were on the ice about 1/2 way to the
island & 2 groups of swans were between the island & the point of land to
the northeast. The Union Springs ponds both have many mallards, redheads &
gadwall right now.
Fritzie
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 11:48 AM
Good morning! While walking our dog, my husband saw a live tree that looks
like a Pileated Woodpecker has been excavating. It has a pile of chips at
the base, and a few holes encompassing the tree. I think the tree is a live
tree also. My question is, is a nest or a place where it's eating, and is
there a way to know the difference?
Diana Whiting
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