Two shots of a male Northern Flicker at work on a nest hole across the street from our house. The folks who manage Lithia Park regularly cut the tops off dead trees but leave at least ten feet of the trunk standing. His hole is being pecked into the side of one of these trucks, about twelve feet above the ground. The Flicker and I thank the thoughtful park workers.
Experts say both male and female work on the nest hole. All I’ve noticed so far this spring:male Flickers drilling away. This species is migratory, unusual among North American woodpeckers. Here we have wintering birds from further north plus our resident Flickers. Right now their rattle calls and drumming are all around the woods.
Earlier today:
Location: Upper Granite St.–Ashland
Observation date: 4/10/08
Number of species: 11
Mallard 3
Turkey Vulture 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Band-tailed Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 1
Rufous Hummingbird 1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 4
Steller’s Jay 12
Bushtit 11
Spotted Towhee 3
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 10
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Location: Lithia Park, Ashland
Observation date: 4/10/08
Number of species: 14
Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 45
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 1
Northern Flicker 1
Steller’s Jay 1
Common Raven 1
Tree Swallow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Hermit Thrush 1
Spotted Towhee 1
Lincoln’s Sparrow 1
Lesser Goldfinch 2
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