I was at the previously described residence in Colorado Springs at 0640 today and enjoyed chatting with several other birders, while we waited in eager anticipation of the arrival of the female Acorn Woodpecker. She was heard calling "whacka, whacka, whacka" from a phone pole a couple of houses up the hill at about 0750. We got to see the "clown face" in full sun and it was great! A pair of Hairy Woodpeckers landed on the pole below the Acorn and made their way up to the top where she perched. Within about 5 minutes she dominated them and drove them away. She then flew into the trees around the feeders where she had originally been seen. (Thanks to the observant homeowners for spotting AND reporting this fun bird).
In the category of supplemental information, the Acorn Woodpecker was called the "California" Woodpecker in the old days (nineteen-thirties and forties, at least) and was the inspiration for the calls of Woody Woodpecker of cartoon fame. The Pileated Woodpecker inspired the shape for Woody, so Walter Lance used artistic license in combining aspects of the two species. AM seems to be the most reliable time to spot the bird and the homeowners told me that a little over half of the birders who tried for it actually saw it, so there is no guarantee. Joe Roller, Denver -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
