Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Dave Nutter]

Tom Riley and Bill Roberts first noted 2 adult Red-headed Woodpeckers flying around along South Mays Point Road on Wednesday 3 July. On 7 July I saw each adult tossing wood chips from separate apparently old holes in the same dead tree. I think they have since concentrated on just one of those holes. --Dave NutterOn Aug 20, 2013, at 08:12 PM, Paul  wrote:Have not seen them bringing out fecal sacs, and have been looking for that.  Any seen that?   It is definitely possible this is food caching.  Looked up the background in Kaufman’s Lives of North American Birds.  It mentions caching of acorns, beechnuts, not berries. Says they are the most omnivorous of woodpeckers.  But why would they cache insects?  Seems a poor choice. Now, I am wondering about the timing of this pair at this location. When were they first seen excavating the cavity? Says a second brood is possible; incubation 12-13 days and fledging in 27-31 days.  That predicts fledging in 39 to 44 days from onset.  How does that match with dates when they were excavating?  Does anyone have the key dates? Paul Schmitt From: Dave Nutter Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PMTo: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker species do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. Is it possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge with fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the way, Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.--Dave NutterOn Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark  wrote:Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.  More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings on mulberries.  Anne Clark On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May�s Point this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before resuming activity. More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be acorns.  Now, I�ve posted some images on my blog  (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit. Paul Schmitt--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives:The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird!-- --Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives:The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird!Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives:The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird!--
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[cayugabirds-l] hydrilla found in Fall Cr by Stewart Pk & Newman Golf Course

[Dave Nutter]

There was also an attachment, a map, which I deleted because Cayugabirds-L prohibits photos and attachments. It showed several points along the shore of the lagoon between Renwick & Stewart, much less in the cove along Fall Creek into Renwick, and most densely in the little cove into the golf course by the old end of Pier Road, where one can walk around the end of the fence to cross the golf course to head to Jetty Woods.  --Dave NutterBegin forwarded message:From: Cynthia Brock Date: August 20, 2013 9:39:09 PMTo: undisclosed-recipients: ;Subject: [IW] [WHCA] Fwd: New hydrilla population found - Fall Creek, Ithaca NY [1 Attachment] [Attachment(s) from Cynthia Brock included below-- Forwarded message --From: Hilary Lambert Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2013Subject: FYI: New hydrilla population - Fall Creek, Ithaca NYHi – Here is the official announcement, plus map of area presently known to be affected – attached.Hilary From James Balyszak, Hydrilla Program Coordinator: On behalf of the Hydrilla Task Force, I want to announce the recent discovery of hydrilla in isolated areas of Fall Creek (Ithaca, NY).  On Thursday August 8, 2013, Racine-Johnson Aquatic Ecologists’ survey crew found new areas of hydrilla growth in Fall Creek while conducting rake-toss surveys for hydrilla and other aquatic plants. Hydrilla was first found at the entrance to the Stewart Park Pond from Fall Creek (northeast side of Fall Creek), then within the Pond itself.  A short time later, and over the next several days, hydrilla was found growing in other protected areas of the Fall Creek Inlet (near the municipal golf course backwater on the northwest side of Fall Creek). Currently, hydrilla growth in the Fall Creek area is sparse in density, much less than the growth that was observed in early August of 2011 in the Cayuga Inlet.  Bob Johnson (of Racine-Johnson Aquatic Ecologists) and Angel Hinickle (of the Tompkins County Soil & Water Conservation District) are currently working on finalizing a map delineating the new hydrilla infestation in the Fall Creek area. Before making a formal announcement to the public and stakeholders, the Task Force wanted to understand the full extent of the new infestation.  Severe storms directly following the initial discovery on August 8th prevented completion of our delineation until early this week (due to excessively high water levels, flow rates, and turbidity). The Task Force also wanted to survey as much of the mouth of Fall Creek as possible, including the adjacent section of Cayuga Lake.  Survey efforts are still ongoing, but at this time NO hydrilla has been found rooted or growing in Cayuga Lake. In both 2011 and 2012, floating fragments of hydrilla were observed in the inlet, meaning some fragments could have floated into the lake.  A prevailing northwest wind on Cayuga Lake pushes the surface waters back into the inlet, toward Stewart Park and into Fall Creek.  It is possible fragments may have been blown back into Fall Creek and become rooted. It is also possible that hydrilla fragments could have been transported via watercraft (boats, canoes, kayaks, etc.) from an area of the Cayuga Inlet that was infested to the Fall Creek area. The potential does exist for water fowl to carry fragments as well. The hydrilla in Fall Creek was likely there last year, but was not detected by our surveys due to growth being too low for detection. The Task Force believes that we have caught this growth very early, making eradication possible and confirming the importance of ongoing monitoring/sampling. At the same time that the extent of hydrilla growth in Fall Creek is being delineated, the Hydrilla Task Force has been considering the possible treatment options. The current plan is to apply to NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation for a pesticide permit to treat this new discovery with a contact herbicide to prevent any further growth of plants this fall.  The herbicide Aquathol-K (active ingredient endothall), which has been used in 2011, 2012 and 2013 in Cayuga Inlet, is the standard and recommended treatment for a new infestation, though all possible responses are being considered.  Herbicide treatment in the Fall Creek will not affect ongoing herbicide treatment in Cayuga Inlet and will not necessitate closing the inlet. Signs are being placed in the areas of new infestations to keep out boaters. Long-term decisions will be made based on our observations following any herbicide treatment and continued monitoring from now into winter.  Since our current efforts to eradicate hydrilla in the Cayuga Inlet are on track and working well, it is likely that we will consider a similar approach in the Fall Creek area in the coming years. The Task Force will develop a comprehensive treatment plan (including area to be treated, quantity of herbicides to be used, monitoring/sampling plans, and associated costs). We will continue to consult our state and national hydrilla experts who guide our hydrilla

[cayugabirds-l] RH Woodpecker

[M Miller]

Just a couple comments about the May's Point pair. I saw my first glimpse of a 
Red-headed Woodpecker on June 2nd (while on an Eaton field trip). It was only a 
brief glimpse before it was chased off by blackbirds, wasn't 100% sure (not 
having heard of any in the area) so I didn't report it.
 
I also have photos of it with a blackberry in it's mouth and a couple bees. It 
has also exhibited "flycatching" behavior.
 
  
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[joe & Diana]

Hi, 
 I was only able to observe them a couple of times. The first dates are on 
7/08/ 2013 and the ones where I saw them going back and forth from the nesting 
cavity are on 8/12. On the July date, they were still excavating. Here is a 
link to one leaving the cavity with what I assume is a fecal sac.
http://www.dianawhitingphotography.com/Galleries/Birds/Passerines/12959449_8PScNT#!i=2713829101&k=jc4LbbC

Diana
On Aug 20, 2013, at 8:12 PM, Paul wrote:

> Have not seen them bringing out fecal sacs, and have been looking for that.  
> Any seen that?   It is definitely possible this is food caching.  Looked up 
> the background in Kaufman’s Lives of North American Birds.  It mentions 
> caching of acorns, beechnuts, not berries. Says they are the most omnivorous 
> of woodpeckers.  But why would they cache insects?  Seems a poor choice.
>  
> Now, I am wondering about the timing of this pair at this location. When were 
> they first seen excavating the cavity? Says a second brood is possible; 
> incubation 12-13 days and fledging in 27-31 days.  That predicts fledging in 
> 39 to 44 days from onset.  How does that match with dates when they were 
> excavating?  Does anyone have the key dates?
>  
> Paul Schmitt
>  
> From: Dave Nutter
> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PM
> To: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu
> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point
>  
> I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker 
> species do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. 
> Is it possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge 
> with fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the 
> way, Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.
> --Dave Nutter
> 
> On Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark  wrote:
> 
>> Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
>> Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
>> fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees. 
>>  
>> More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit 
>> very late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their 
>> nestlings on mulberries. 
>>  
>> Anne Clark
>>  
>> On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:
>> 
>>> Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May�s Point 
>>> this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence 
>>> when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to 
>>> which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  
>>> Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity 
>>> watching south and the other to the north in a tree along the river.  The 
>>> Merlin was in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 
>>> 20 minutes longer before resuming activity.
>>>  
>>> More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
>>> cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
>>> sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
>>> other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
>>> acorns.  Now, I�ve posted some images on my blog  
>>> (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild 
>>> grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my 
>>> first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries 
>>> from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. 
>>> Had not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.
>>>  
>>> Paul Schmitt
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>>> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
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>> 
>>  
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Diana Whiting
http://www.dianawhitingphotography.com/


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[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker

[Diana]

Hi All, 
 I have photographed them bringing out a fecal sac, so pretty sure there is 
young involved.
Diana Whiting

Diana Whiting
dianawhitingphotography.com
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Paul]

Have not seen them bringing out fecal sacs, and have been looking for that.  
Any seen that?   It is definitely possible this is food caching.  Looked up the 
background in Kaufman’s Lives of North American Birds.  It mentions caching of 
acorns, beechnuts, not berries. Says they are the most omnivorous of 
woodpeckers.  But why would they cache insects?  Seems a poor choice.

Now, I am wondering about the timing of this pair at this location. When were 
they first seen excavating the cavity? Says a second brood is possible; 
incubation 12-13 days and fledging in 27-31 days.  That predicts fledging in 39 
to 44 days from onset.  How does that match with dates when they were 
excavating?  Does anyone have the key dates?

Paul Schmitt

From: Dave Nutter 
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PM
To: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu 
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker species 
do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. Is it 
possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge with 
fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the way, 
Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.

--Dave Nutter
On Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark  wrote:


  Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.  

  More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit 
very late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their 
nestlings on mulberries.  

  Anne Clark

  On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:


Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May�s Point 
this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence when 
a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the 
adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  Thereafter, 
the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the 
other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was in the area for 
about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before 
resuming activity.

More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
acorns.  Now, I�ve posted some images on my blog  
(http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes 
to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first 
visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from 
vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not 
expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.

Paul Schmitt
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Ann Mitchell]

I thought I mentioned it before, but  Linda Clougherty and I saw then caching 
food a couple weeks ago. We did see them with some kind of nut and also 
insects. Really cool!

Ann Mitchell
Sent from my IPhone

On Aug 20, 2013, at 7:42 PM, "Marie P. Read"  wrote:

> Hey there's a thought...caching food...definitely something that woodpeckers 
> do. 
> Anyway, woodpeckers do indeed bring out fecal material (a mix of droppings 
> and wood chips rather than a sac (songbirds only I think)), but one might 
> have to watch for a number of hours before it happens. 
> 
> I may have to head up there myself...I know, what took me so long, right?
> 
> Marie
> 
> 
> Marie Read Wildlife Photography
> 452 Ringwood Road
> Freeville NY  13068 USA
> 
> Phone  607-539-6608
> e-mail   m...@cornell.edu
> 
> http://www.marieread.com
> 
> ***NEW***  Music of the Birds Vol 1 ebook for Apple iPad now available from 
> iTunes
> 
> http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/music-of-the-birds-v1/id529347014?mt=11
> 
> From: bounce-107847794-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
> [bounce-107847794-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Dave Nutter 
> [nutter.d...@me.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PM
> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point
> 
> I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker 
> species do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. 
> Is it possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge 
> with fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the 
> way, Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.
> 
> --Dave Nutter
> 
> On Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark  wrote:
> 
> Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
> Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
> fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.
> 
> More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit 
> very late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their 
> nestlings on mulberries.
> 
> Anne Clark
> 
> On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:
> 
> Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point 
> this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence 
> when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to 
> which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  
> Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching 
> south and the other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was 
> in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes 
> longer before resuming activity.
> 
> More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
> cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
> sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
> other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
> acorns.  Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog  
> (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild 
> grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my 
> first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries 
> from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had 
> not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.
> 
> Paul Schmitt
> --
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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Marie P. Read]

Hey there's a thought...caching food...definitely something that woodpeckers 
do. 
Anyway, woodpeckers do indeed bring out fecal material (a mix of droppings and 
wood chips rather than a sac (songbirds only I think)), but one might have to 
watch for a number of hours before it happens. 

I may have to head up there myself...I know, what took me so long, right?

Marie


Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

Phone  607-539-6608
e-mail   m...@cornell.edu

http://www.marieread.com

***NEW***  Music of the Birds Vol 1 ebook for Apple iPad now available from 
iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/music-of-the-birds-v1/id529347014?mt=11

From: bounce-107847794-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-107847794-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Dave Nutter 
[nutter.d...@me.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker species 
do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. Is it 
possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge with 
fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the way, 
Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.

--Dave Nutter

On Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark  wrote:

Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.

More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very 
late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings 
on mulberries.

Anne Clark

On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:

Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point this 
morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence when a 
Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the 
adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  Thereafter, 
the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the 
other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was in the area for 
about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before 
resuming activity.

More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
acorns.  Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog  
(http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes 
to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first 
visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from 
vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not 
expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.

Paul Schmitt
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Dave Nutter]

I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker species do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. Is it possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge with fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the way, Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.--Dave NutterOn Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark  wrote:Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees. More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings on mulberries.  Anne ClarkOn Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before resuming activity. More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be acorns.  Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog  (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit. Paul Schmitt--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives:The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird!Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives:The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird!--
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Anne Clark]

Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees. 

More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very 
late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings 
on mulberries.  

Anne Clark

On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:

> Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point 
> this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence 
> when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to 
> which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  
> Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching 
> south and the other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was 
> in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes 
> longer before resuming activity.
>  
> More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
> cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
> sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
> other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
> acorns.  Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog  
> (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild 
> grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my 
> first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries 
> from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had 
> not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.
>  
> Paul Schmitt
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[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Paul]

Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point this 
morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence when a 
Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the 
adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  Thereafter, 
the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the 
other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was in the area for 
about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before 
resuming activity.

More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
acorns.  Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog  
(http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes 
to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first 
visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from 
vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not 
expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.

Paul Schmitt
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Fwd: [cayugabirds-l] OT: fab mushroom photos

[Karen Edelstein]

Thanks, Betsy! My 1980s botany is out of date!

See

" They were termed saprophytes, meaning plants that get their nourishment
from decaying organic matter. The term saprophyte is now obsolete, and
plants such as Indian pipe and others that obtain nutrients in the same
manner are called mycoheterotrophs or epiparasites. They appear to be
parasitic on the fungi as no benefit to the fungus from its association
with the Indian pipe has been discerned.

-- Forwarded message --
From: Betsy Darlington 
Date: Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] OT: fab mushroom photos
To: Karen Edelstein 


Hi, Karen--
It turns out that they aren't saprophytes after all, but parasites on
mycorhizal fungi. (So says Kathie Hodge.)  When I learned this from her
several years ago, I was very surprised.  The same is true of squawroot and
beech drops.
Betsy


On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 12:24 AM, Karen Edelstein  wrote:

> Hi Meena,
>
> Great finds! Two of your mushrooms (pages 2 and 13) are actually not
> fungi, but are saprophytic, nonphotosynthetic flowering plants. Probably
> Indian pipe,  Monotropa uniflora.
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