Friday, March 07, 2014

Hairy (Downy??) Woodpecker

 

12 comments:

mariposa said...

T.G.I.F.

Mr. Ed said...

Mariposa - You slick-talking rascal. I couldn't have said it any more eloquently.

Today's cover shot: Just a guy that likes to beat his head against a wall.... or whatever! Anyway, I can identify with him.....

mariposa said...

I know the the feeling. But it feels so good when you stop.

carol said...

Cute little Woodpecker... never heard of that variety.

We have one (or more ?) around here in the summer, we hear them rat-a-tatting away at the telephone pole across the street!

Mr. Ed said...

Carol - This guy may actually be a Downy... my bad. The Hairy and the Downy look a lot alike except the Downy is smaller. The males of both have a small red patch on the top of their head. We have both out here but the Downy is more common.

Woodpeckers put out a "mating" call by pecking on either logs or metal signs. They prefer the logs to be hollow but do pick on power poles. Somehow they have learned that metal signs produce a nice loud signal too. They like smaller signs... I think for the sound they make. They don't seem to go for "Stop" or signs of that size.

carol said...

My you are a font of knowledge!! Thanks for the woodpecker tutorial :)
I thought they were pecking for insects on the power pole, it's one of the old wooden ones and even tho it is cured in creosote I think insects do crawl in the cracks. But I didn't know they were pecking for love!!! Good for them!

Mr. Ed said...

Carol - Although some of the woodpeckers do go directly after bugs... mostly in decomposing wood... some are sapsuckers. They bore a hole into a tree's bark and then wait. The tree will try to seal the hole with pitch or sap. That sticky goo is sweet and it traps bugs who try to make it a meal... mostly ants or aphids. Then the sapsuckers simply go back and collect their harvest.

mariposa said...

WOW 56 and sunny. Time to unwind. I think my bottle of chocolate wine is calling my name.

I will work a couple of hours or so tomorrow then head to a small quilt show.

Mr. Ed said...

Mariposa - Wow! Chocolate WINE????

mariposa said...

Yup

Mr. Ed said...

Wow! It's no wonder more and more women no longer need men in their lives. Chocolate and WINE in one package... Who'd-a thunk??

mariposa said...

Makes me happy but I am easily entertained.