[TN-Bird] sapsucker nest in Carter Co., TN

SUN 20 JUN 2004
Ripshin Lake, Roaring Creek Rd., Carter Co., TN
D. Holt

A pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were found feeding an undetermined number 
of young in their nest at the edge of Ripshin Lake (elev. ca 3400 ft.) today 
near noon.  The cavity was in the dead, upper trunk of a broken-topped live 
Yellow Birch about twenty feet up, facing the water.  The tree was covered with 
sapwells that were being used by a Ruby-throated Hummingbird as I watched.  A 
couple of feet above the nest were some decayed holes from which a Boomer (Red 
Squirrel) was trying to ambush the sapsuckers as the adults came to feed 
insects to the young.  Though it tried to grab the young a couple of times 
after 
scaring off the adult, the boomer's head would not quite fit the opening.  It 
usually retired after rushing the adults, who were quite careful in their 
approach to the hole, and who managed to feed their young in spite of the 
boomer.  
They were still at it when I left after about 30 minutes of observation.  When 
I returned with Wallace Coffey and a camera about three hours later, the 
boomer was not evident, and the birds were still feeding their young.  Wallace 
may 
have photos to post later.

Don Holt
Johnson City, TN
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