Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-07-01
The FIicker's Nest.

There has been much written about the
golden -shafted woodpecker's nesting in
boxes put up for him. One OF the high
est authorities declares that the birds
sometimes select such places; another
states that they frequently" choose holes
used before by others of their kindred.
But want to ask, has anyone really ever
known the bird TO do this trick ? have
seen good many scores offlickers' nests.
have climbed to good many and in
the old days OF collecting, between thirty
and forty years ago, quite number OF
the holes were sacrificed. after hard
climb and by means of hatchet, 10 The
cause of science, more often supposed
than real. We found time to watch, with
zeal that was truly commendable, the
first labors of flickers toward the nest
construction and have yet TO find the
bird housekeeping where there were not
lot of chips, all over the ground, at the
base of the tree. This year know five
nests and all are in new holes in trees
where several other holes mark the nest
ing places OF preceding years.
could never discover that the flicker,
or any other woodpecker, possessed
very decided choice for any particular
kind OF wood in selecting nesting tree.
have known them to cut into the sun
seasoned, barked and air-dried vertical
branches ofhickory, white oak, beech and
hard maple, as well as chestnut. cedar and
other soft woods. believe have seen
or heard of flickers' nests in almost every
kind of large tree OF Eastern North Amer
ica, excepting the tulip poplar, The walnut
and the locusts. Dugmore says: "Any
tree may be chosen. but the apple is per-
haps the favorite" | have found the red
maple generally preferred by the flicker
in the Southeastern Middle States and the
South; the red oaks are also frequently
chosen, but this season the blight-des-
troyed chestnuts are becoming most pop
ular with them, and considerable eleva-
tions in such cases are the rule. In this
the birds are not altogether wise, as the
high winds are too frequently bringing
these tops and branches TO the ground,
swapping the brittle, doty wood off like
pipe stems, and the boring larvae OF the
"shot hole" beetles are doing much TO
help weaken the branches or stems.
The flicker is one OF our commonest
birds in spite of the great numbers de-
stroyed for food by the colored and poor
white population in the South, in regions
where the law against shooting them does
not reach effectively. An explanation oi
their abundance is '1und in the success
of their nesting and the number OF eggs
they have, which averages seven or eight.
The powerful birds have little 10 fear
from enemies that can reach them, such
as climbing snakes and squirrels, for these
creatures are attacked and driven oil in a
hurry. One whack with the point OF that
chisel bill would suffice TO turn almost any
contest into victory for the bird and.
knowing this, for the wild creatures have
broad wisdom in such matters, the flick
er's nesting cavities are rarely attacked.
This season a neighbor found broken
egg and another whole one that had fallen
among grass at the loot Of a tree where
flicker was nesting. Probably this was
the work of red squirrel, the rascal hav-
ing devoured one egg and in attempting
to escape with another met the returning
birds.