Opportunistic Feeding in Rainswept Columbia backyard Habitats
Darius Ecker (dariuse@abs.net)
Sat, 8 Nov 1997 07:57:06 -0500
Friday morning while getting ready for work I looked out my bedroom window
to see a pair female Downy Woodpeckers feeding on the suet I'd placed on
the tree outside the window. Although Downy Woodpecker is a common bird, it
was uncommon for two of them to be feeding in our backyard at the same
time. I was excited to see them. They were the only two birds feeding in
the yard on this rainy day. (Well, not quite !)
One Downy was on the cake of suet feeding, as the other ascended the tree
trunk towards the suet. As the second Downy approached the first within
about 18 inches, the first downy fluttered up to defend it's feeding
territory. The Downys were now both airborn, fluttering, attacking each
other just outside my window. They fluttered down out of my site.
Curious at the loud chatter, I approached the window, and looked down to
see where they had gone. I was shocked at what I saw. A small adult male
Sharp-shinned Hawk on the ground, with it's wings spread out cupped around
it's prey. Two Downy Woodpeckers ! One talon on each Woodpecker ! If
birds can smile, I'm sure he was smiling.
All I could think of was this little male hawk had dared to take MY downy
woodpeckers. My heart sunk into my stomach. I'm not sure where my brain
was, for my brain would have told me to grab my camera and take a photo of
this "once in a lifetime scene". Instead, I charged down the steps to
protect my woodpeckers. What an audacious thought. As I opened the back
door and looked, the scene had dissappeared. All the birds were gone.
I like to tell myself that one of the Downys got away, and the other was
taken by the Sharp-shinned. A fair result. The way of things in nature.
I'll never know for sure. There are no woodpeckers feeding on the suet in
my backyard this morning. I don't think I can take the emotional ups and
downs of watching the feeder this morning. I think I'll drive up to
Harford County and look for the Pacific Loon.
Darius Ecker,
Columbia, Maryland.