. The oist . ed-belliedWoodpecker may be found as a springand summer resident. A few birdsremain throughout the year duringmilder winters, but usually the leaveus in October. During early spring these Wood-peckers are quite noisy birds. Thenthey may be seen chasing each otherabout the woods, and occasionallythey pause to pound upon some deadtree trunk. March is the matingmonth of the Red-bellied Woodpeck-ers; at this time they are quite males are often seen fighting atthis time. As the nesting time approaches,which is early May, these birds be-come quiet, and seldom is their pres-enc
. The oist . ed-belliedWoodpecker may be found as a springand summer resident. A few birdsremain throughout the year duringmilder winters, but usually the leaveus in October. During early spring these Wood-peckers are quite noisy birds. Thenthey may be seen chasing each otherabout the woods, and occasionallythey pause to pound upon some deadtree trunk. March is the matingmonth of the Red-bellied Woodpeck-ers; at this time they are quite males are often seen fighting atthis time. As the nesting time approaches,which is early May, these birds be-come quiet, and seldom is their pres-ence noticed. The dead tops of Oaktrees or Maples provide these prettyWoodpeckers ample nesting nest was dug into the live trunkof a tall, straight Red Oak tree thatstood in a grove of Oaks, high up ona hillside. May 3d, it was examinedand found to hold four glossy eggs,resting in soft wood chips. The birdswere anxious as the intruder cut anopening to their home. Both of them THE OOLOGIST 147 #*♦- m. ^^-feS^ The Gulls, Catalina Id., Calif., March, 1912 —Photo by R. M. Baines 148 THB OOLOGIST fluttering about on the tree trunksnearby, uttering their peculiar cluck-ing notes. The Red-bellied Woodpecker mustdo an enormous benefit to the woodlets, for they are continually creepingabout the trees picking at the crev-ices where they obtain their insectfood. S. S. , Pa. Mourning Dove F. Duprey of Dixon, California,writes that he has a set of four of thewestern variety of this bird, taken byAlfred Shelton between Santa Rosaand Petaluma, California. We like-wise have sets of both three and fourin our collection of this western varie-ty. Nesting of the Grasshopper Sparrow. (Ammodramus savannarum australis). Among the common birds I thinkthat the Grasshopper Sparrow is myfavorite. At least when I pass somedeserted field and catch the sound ofthe faint Grasshopper-like notes ofthis inconspicuous sparrow, I find thatthe fondest memories return to me
Size: 2230px × 1120px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidoist30al, booksubjectbirds
