Jeff says:  I was wondering if this could be related to the disappearance of 
our
breeding red-headed woodpeckers around here (Croom).  I don't know to what
extent they use acorns in their diet; I have never seen one eating or
carrying an acorn, but I assumed they eat them during fall and winter when
insects become scarce.

I've been visiting Gettysburg National Battlefield a couple times a week for 
about a month.  Each time I go I see one or two red-headed woodpeckers.  
Twice (including today at noon) I've seen one land on the ground, forage 
among the leaves, and fly up to a branch with an acorn that he proceeds to 
bash open.  Whether he is eating the seed itself or insects that may have 
infiltrated the acorn while on the ground is a question I don't know the 
answer to.

Celia Adams
Fairfield, PA



>From: Jeff Shenot <>
>Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding <>
>To: 
>Subject: [MDOSPREY] Acorns, red-headed woodpeckers, was absent jays
>Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 08:52:41 -0500
>
>I have always noticed that there is a wide range of fluctuation in mast
>crops, at least here in central MD, and it seems consistent over a regional
>area.  But last fall was one of the worst mast crops I have ever seen.
>There were essentially no acorns produced on the whites, reds, or chestnut
>oaks around here (southern PG and AA Co.s), and most the acorns I looked at
>were very small.
>
>I was wondering if this could be related to the disappearance of our
>breeding red-headed woodpeckers around here (Croom).  I don't know to what
>extent they use acorns in their diet; I have never seen one eating or
>carrying an acorn, but I assumed they eat them during fall and winter when
>insects become scarce.  For 7 years now (or longer, that's as long as I've
>been at this house), we had very localized breeding pairs with their
>offspring, easily found in specific areas.  I know of at least 2 pairs at
>one spot and one at another, along with all of their juvey's, that all
>disappeared.  I have not seen one here since last summer.  I first noticed
>their absence in late summer/early fall (mid-August - beginning of
>migration season).  If they do rely on acorns in winter, they would
>certainly know (from when they are foraging in oak canopies) when a severe
>shortage was coming; I think probably by mid-summer they could tell.  I
>hope it was related, and hope they will return in spring.  However, if they
>do, it will be quite odd, since they have never migrated or went away for
>winter before.  Until now, they have been year-round residents here.  Does
>anyone know if red-headed woodpeckers occasionally "become" migratory, due
>to food shortages?  If not, time will tell.
>
>Jeff Shenot
>Croom, MD

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