Saturday, September 26, 2009

If you hang it.....they will come?

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Woodpecker feeder at Walmart, complete with a block of seed. It was the first time I'd noticed the product and thought it was worth a try as I'd seen one (yes, 1) Downey Woodpecker in our neighbourhood last winter.

Since hanging it in our garden we've received lots of little visitors, including this Black Capped Chickadee. But no sign of a Woodpecker.....

Until this morning! When I came downstairs at 7:45am to get a bowl of cereal, this guy was having breakfast too.

According to my Lone Pine Ontario Nature Guide: "Woodpeckers have feathered nostrils, which filter out the sawdust produced by hammering" Of course they don't have to worry about sawdust at my feeder.

Photo note: the soft appearance on photos of birds at our feeders is due to the fact that I shoot through the kitchen and diningroom windows which have screens as well as glass.

9 comments:

  1. Elaine, your photographs are taking on an ethereal quality that is just stunning. They literally take my breathe away.

    If you hang them (in a gallery) we will come.

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  2. I never thought about the problem of sawdust! I may have to try one of those feeders. I have ONE woodpecker that runs up and down my rose tree!
    I agree, your pictures are fabulous!

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  3. great photos! I am wondering, why is it considered a woodpecker feeder?

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  4. Doreen, I think it's the combination of the type of seed block and the type of cage that makes it a woodpecker feeder. I'm not sure what the binding agent is for the seed, but it doesn't appear to be suet. Also, the rectangular shape of the cage provides the support for them to balance themselves with their tail if they need to.

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  5. Great photos, and it's interesting to know about the feathers in the nostrils. I never knew that.

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  6. We have woodpeckers, at least during the summer. I don't really want to attract them after the incident with our cabin wall. A woodpecker decided it would be a great place to drill for either food or a nest, not sure which. It took quite a bit of "encouragement" to get him to leave us alone and then we had to repair the wall to keep the bats and other critters out of our eaves. - Margy

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  7. You certainly bring out the cat in us with your photos. I could stare at them all day. I know what you mean about the screens and glass. They do play havoc with out cameras but I don't think anyone notices in cases like this. Beautiful up-close and personal photos.

    Gray looks very handsome. Is he trying out for a centerfold photo?
    Watch out. He may go pro on you and run away from home and start working for a cat magazine. Then, as he song goes, he will come back with capped teeth, weighing 20 pounds or more, and have a salmon on his back. Tell him now about the dangers of living the high life.

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  8. What beautiful captures, and how great to find a woodpecker. Interesting fact about their nostrils! I've developed a bit of an obsession about birdfeeders but for the last month or so none of the foods we've put out have been touched. I assumed it was because natural foodstuffs are plentiful for the birds at this time of year - but they seem to like what you've put out!
    Janice.

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  9. I love the photo of the chickadee. They are such cute little critters.

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