I would like to share my observation made a few days ago.
I have never seen the tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatcher display aggression in
the past but after a Red-bellied Woodpecker landed in what was
apparently the territory of two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers the fight was
on. The two would sweep and dive on the Woodpecker just like you would
see from Red-winged Blackbirds and American Crows, only the action was
faster and more often. The Woodpecker finally decided he was not
welcome and moved on--- tranquility was restored.
Gerald White
Muscatine, IA
On 5/26/2011 9:49 AM, Ann Johnson wrote:
Even as I search for the last of the elusive warblers wending their way
north, our local residents are providing me with much entertainment in the
yard. Last evening I glanced out to see two Hairy Woodpeckers at the
sunflower feeder, not particularly unusual in and of itself. However, the
male was cracking open a seed and then sliding around to the other side to
feed the other bird. It returned to the port and repeated the operation.
Sure enough, it was not a female Hairy but a still somewhat downy baby Hairy
Woodpecker. Baby would climb the mesh but still didn't have the tail for
balance thing quite figured out and would slide slowly back to the tray.
Although most of the Breeding Bird Atlas blocks probably don't have feeders
to watch, much of this same behavior can be observed in the wild. With this
incident plus the Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher nest building and Northern Cardinal
sitting on eggs at Easter Lake, it's a good wake-up call to start working on
BBA blocks already. For those who haven't yet seen it, the latest
newsletter is now published to the BBA site and illustrates how our work
starts painting a picture of what is happening with Iowa's birds. Be sure
to take a look - it's a great read!
http://bba.iowabirds.org/documents/BBA_SpringSummer_2011.pdf
Ann Johnson
Norwalk, IA 50211
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Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members
make it!
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Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use:
Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0
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This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership
available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp.
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