And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: "Karen RedFox" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> replies: Karen Mitchell [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Back to Nature Column � published weekly in Florida Newspapers Downy Woodpecker � I heard the morning paper hit the driveway with a slap as the old, tied-on muffler, of a car crept down the empty street. As it stopped at each house it idled in a rumble of metal clanking and belts slipping and squealing. Although the sun hadn�t revealed itself on the horizon yet, I put the kettle on and started to run a bath for my daughter as I flicked the power button on of my computer. In what seemed like minutes to my groggy mind the kettle was announcing that it was ready for tea and my daughter was toweling her wet hair dry. Even the sun was breaking through the leaves and dappling light upon the kitchen table. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. �I�d really like a grapefruit, Mom. Do we have any?� After checking the refrigerator I realized that the only grapefruit available were the ones growing on the tree outside. This ought to wake me up, I thought. The morning air was fresh and cool. Patches of fog laid close to the ground. A Mockingbird was singing her heart-out atop the lamp post while two red cardinal birds played in the bottle-brush tree. I took a deep breath and thought, This is why we live in Florida, for this is the middle of January, when most places are digging out of snowstorms and de-icing their windows. The large, yellow fruit hung in heavy clumps dripping from the previous night�s heavy dew. As I approached the tree I noticed a quick movement among the leaves, then came a loud drumming sound against one of the limbs. A woodpecker, I thought, what a delight. On closer inspection I could see a small black and white bird of about 6 inches with a bright red patch at his crown, a Downy Woodpecker. Although similar, the Downy Woodpecker can be readily distinguished from the Hairy Woodpecker by its size which is approximately 9 inches in length and as well the Hairy Woodpecker has a much larger bill. The tiny Down Woodpecker is a year round resident of Florida and is common throughout most of North America. They�re often attracted and can be observed visiting suet feeders. The male and female appear similar except for the small red patch at the back of the male�s head. The breast of this woodpecker is white. The crown is black , with the addition of the red patch in the male, with a white line just above the eye. Underneath this is another black line that runs to the back of the head from the eye. Their white cheeks are separated by a thinner black line that runs from the edge of the bill almost to the back of the neck. The white patch on their backs is quiet visible even from a distance. The wings of the Downy Woodpecker remind me of black and white finely checked cloth. In Florida, both woodpeckers are often seen in fruit trees excavating bark, soft wood and holes in search for insects. They�ll often make their nests in the soft wood of old, abandoned fruit trees. One of the most charming traits of this woodpecker is its lack of fear of humans. If you�re fortunate enough to have an attractive habitat to offer to this woodpecker you�ll be able to observe them at close range without the need for binoculars, delighting in the antics of the Downy Woodpecker as it searches for dinner upside-down. Florida residents should watch for them especially at this time of the year when fruit is plentiful attracting a good source of insects for this charming little bird to eat. I stood watching the woodpecker as he scaled each limb and searched every small crevice, then I heard the screen door squeak open. �Mom, are you going to stay out there all day?� my daughter questioned irritably. I smiled to myself as I twisted off a night-cooled, pink grapefruit and thought, Well. . . I would if I could. What a joy it is to live on the Sun Coast of Florida at this time of year, don�t you all agree? For the convenience of my readers I have put up a website which will include back issues of the Back to Nature Columns. http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/5784 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
