[Magdalen] Odd patrons at local eatery

[Grace Cangialosi]

Actually, much, if not most, of the drumming behavior--unless they're hollowing out a nest ( which is much quieter and more purposeful) is territorial.
I've recently seen a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on the trunk of a Holly tree working diligently with it's beak. Upon closer inspection, I discovered rows of tiny holes--this had obviously been going on for some time! I had never spotted the bird, though. They drill these holes, which then fill up with a little sap, which attracts bugs. The birds dine on both! The holes do not do serious damage to the trees.

> On Apr 1, 2016, at 10:14 AM, Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Maybe bugs in pole *behind* metal box? 
> Lynn who has has woodpeckers pecking both wood on house and on metal gutters
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Apr 1, 2016, at 9:43 AM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> We got vinyl siding 3 years ago and we *still* get the odd woodpecker
> pouncing on it. They are crazy. My favorite woodpecker story, which I've
> told before, involves the day I was walking up our street in Tennessee and
> heard a pounding-on-metal noise overhead. I looked up to see a good-sized
> woodpecker (not a pileated, so I imagine it was a redheaded) drumming on
> the metal box on one of the utility poles. I wondered what the heck he was
> doing there and decided he was either a frustrated musician or he was
> sending a message about territory.
> 
> On Fri, Apr 1, 2016 at 3:18 AM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford <
> oppenheimerjw at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> When our house had ceder siding, we would get these wrapping noises, and
>> there were spots where the shingles were getting drilled through. I would
>> sneak out to the road and walk down far enough to see around the house (any
>> closer and the birds would leave before I could get a look at them.  They
>> were a tiny woodpecker, hanging on the shingles and banging away.  I called
>> the local Cornell extension and they said this was not uncommon. (What were
>> they after? Do I have bugs in my house?) No, that's just what woodpeckers
>> do!
>> 
>> We painted and their interest waned. We eventually got vinyl siding. Cute
>> little devils.
>> 
>> Today I was out walking and heard a bird calling, and could tell it was
>> nearby, and looked as I walked and finally saw a good sized Pileated.
>> Generally they fly away when I come within even a hundred yards, but this
>> guy stayed. Probably hoping for a meet-up with a potential mate....   Good
>> luck, P.
>> 
>> James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
>> *“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
>> except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy
>> 
>> On Thu, Mar 31, 2016 at 10:04 PM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen <
>> magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> In a message dated 3/31/2016 6:15:29 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>>> gracecan at gmail.com writes:
>>> 
>>> I've had  a Pileated hanging around near the house  >>>>>>>>>>
>>> 
>>> We are seeing them less frequently than, say, twenty years ago.
>>> This is because the aspen trees that were pioneers here after the
>>> clear-cutting of the hardwoods for mining timbers have gradually
>>> died and disappeared from the woody flora.  While the aspens  were
>>> dead and dying, the Pileated woodpeckers had a field day and were
>>> a common sight here.
>>> 
>>> The aspens have been replaced with some beech, maple, and oaks
>>> of several varieties, and they don't have dead wood for the birds.
>>> There're also hemlock and White Pine.
>>> 
>>> Since the house is clothed in T-111 (wood) we have had some
>>> trouble with the Downey Woodpeckers, but they've been better since
>>> the house was repainted.  I guess the paint discourages bugs in  the
>>> siding, and the newly painted siding tastes bad for the woodpeckers.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> David Strang.
>>