FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Recent Birds - Piliated Woodpecker Behavior

[Jack Litz <wjlitz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yesterday, 17Apr, I was working at at a picture window with a good view of some 
close by woods and some open space.  Glancing up occasionally, I spotted the 
following: 
 
American Crow (1) - working from tree to tree, almost always in the background 
Carolina Chickadee (2) - at suet and at a thistle seed feeder 
Northern Cardinal (1M, 1F) - at suet 
Piliated Woodpecker (2) 
 
The Piliated Woodpeckers made a spectacular entry and proceeded to inspect 
several white pines from the ground up to about 5 ft.  Tree diameters were 
18-24 
in.  The birds worked each pine together.  While at the same elevation they 
circled in unison with a separation of about 60-degrees.  They would move 
counterclockwise in synchronized jumps with their heads tilted up at the same 
angle, almost in line with their bodies, and their beaks slightly open.  After 
completing one revolution they would jump up in unison about one bird length 
and 
repeat the ritual.  The only thing that looked like feeding behavior was when 
one bird pecked at a stump a couple of times when they first arrived.  I assume 
they were male and female, but in an attack of "Buck Fever,"  I failed to 
actually check the field marks although I do not remember any extra red marks 
on 
the head of either bird and differences might have been obvious when looking at 
the birds so close to each other.  To me this was an extra special occasion. 
 
On Apr 16 I watched two Carolina Wrens working in some leaf litter.  They 
reminded me of Eastern Towhees the way they jumped and scratched. 
 
Last week I rescued, at ground level, a Carolina Wren trapped in a downspout. 
 
Jack Litz 
Fordtown Community 
Sullivan County,TN 
 
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