Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-04-26

Il
border In certain years when they can
ma an abundant supply OF food'. In fact,
IN the greater part OF the eastern states the
readhead Is "a rather regular resident,,.
out In the western part OF it's range ..it
appears to migrate pretty regularly. 40 1t
- rare to see one ''north Of latitude an
degrees in winterv. The western boun-
Diary OF the redhead's range is the ROCKY
mountains, but east OF the mountains II
breeds from Manitoba and mort bern New
York south to the gulf OF Mexico; though
II is rare bird in eastern New England.
In sections where this cratic wood
pecker migrates, it leaves its nesting
grounds early in October and returns the
latter part OF April or the beginning of
May. Before too much taken up with
the serious business Of lie, the redhead
goes daily about, as Major Bendire SAYS.
"frclickine and playing hide and seek
with its mate, and when not so engaged.
amusing itself by drumming on some
resont Mt dead limb, or the roof and sides
OF houses, barns, etc." For though, like
other drnmmers, the woodpeckers are not
found in the front ranks OF the orchestra,
they beat a royal tattoo that may well
express many fine feelings.
When the musical spring holiday is
over and the birds have chosen a tree for
the nest, they hew out pocket in a trunk
or branch, anywhere from eight to eighty
feet from the ground. When the young
hatch, there comes happy day for the
looker-on who, by kind intent and I'M
obtrusive way, has earned the right to
wstch the lovely birds flying back and
| forth, caring for their brood.
And then, at last, come the days when
the gray headed youngsters, from hang
ing out OF the window, boldly open their
wings and launch into the air. Anxious
times these are for old birds-times when
the watchers admiration may be reused
by heroic deeds OF parental love; for many
parent bird fairly haunts in the face OF
| the enemy, as il trying to say; "kill me;
spare my youngl'
One fanny OF redheads once gave me
delightful three weeks. When the old
birds were first discovered, one was on the
stub In meadow. When Joined by it's
mate, as the farmer was coming with oxen
and hayrack to take up the rows OF hay
cocks that ls d down the field, the pair flew
slowly ahead along a line OF iocusts, peck
ing quietly at the bark OF each tree before
flying on. At the foot of the meadow
they flew over to small grove in the
adjoining pasture.
As it was July, 1t was easy to draw con-
illusions. And when went to the grove
to investigate, the pair were so much
alarmed that they at once corroborated
my conclusions. Did mean harm? Why
had | comet One of them leaned far down
across dead limb and inspected me, rat
thing and bowling nervously; the other
stationed itself on the back OF branch,
over which IL peered at me with one eye.
Both of them cried krit-tar-rah every
time ventured to take a step. As they
positively would not commit themselves
as to which one OF the many woodpecker
holes in sight belonged TO them, had to
make tour OF the grove.
On its edge was a promising old stub
with a number OF big, round holes and,
picking up stick, raped on the trunk.
Both birds were over my head in an in
slant, rafting and scolding till you would
have thought had come to chop down
the tree and carry off the young before
their eyes. ! felt injured, but having
found the nest could afford to watch from
a distance.
1t was not long before the old birds be-
gan feeding their young. They would fly
to the stub and stand under the nest
while ronsing the brood by rattling into
the hole, which had the odd effect OF
back and forth, yellow-hammer stopped
in passing, they drove him of in a hurry.
They wanted that grove to themselves.
On my next visits, il, in spite Of many
precautions, they discovered me, they flew
to dead tree tops to watch me, or startled
me by an angry quar- quar- quar- over
my head. When they found that made no
attempt to go near the nest, however,
they finally put up with me and went
about their business.
After being at the nest together they
would often fly OF in opposite directions,
to hunt on different beats. II one hunted
in the grove, the other would go out to
the rail fence. A high maple was ia
vorite lookout and hunting-ground for
the one who stayed in the grove, and
cracks in the back afforded good places to
wedge insects into. The bird who hunted
on the fence, IL suspecting grub in
rail, would stand As motionless as robin
on the grass, apparently listening; but
when the right moment came, would drill
down rapidly and spar the grub. II an
insect passed that way the redhead would
make sally into the air for it, sometimes
shooting straight up for fifteen or twenty
feet and coming down almost as straight;
at others flying out and back in an ellipse,
horizontally or obliquely up in the air or
down over the ground. But oftener than
all, perhaps, it few down the onto ground
. A.. ~. III nk hor