Earlier this spring I watched a male Red-bellied Woodpecker dig a hole in a dead ash tree in our front yard. It progressed into a full nest hole, the female showed up to help, inspected the work, and all seemed well.

Since all the hard work had been done, a pair of starlings then came and decided that location would be good for them. I thought they had settled in.

Lo and behold, a small flying squirrel wanted it too, and forced them out.

Now to the present, the woodpeckers are back and are trying to reclaim their nest.


Here is the pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers:

Birds14Apr2022_207print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


At various times they each take a turn flying to the hole and looking in:

Birds14Apr2022_240print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Birds14Apr2022_231print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Birds14Apr2022_232print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Eventually this provokes an angry reaction from the squirrel. So far it has always been in there when the woodpeckers show up.

Birds14Apr2022_242print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Here is another try:

Birds14Apr2022_364print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Birds14Apr2022_277print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Birds14Apr2022_365print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


In the midst of all this flurry the male took an opportunity to investigate another existing hole lower down on a broken branch of the same tree. He went all the way in, turned around, and stuck his head back out. This may be their backup plan if the squirrel eviction is not successful.

It will be interesting to see how it all goes this summer!

Birds14Apr2022_322print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Marshall

Earlier this spring I watched a male Red-bellied Woodpecker dig a hole in a dead ash tree in our front yard. It progressed into a full nest hole, the female showed up to help, inspected the work, and all seemed well.

Since all the hard work had been done, a pair of starlings then came and decided that location would be good for them. I thought they had settled in.

Lo and behold, a small flying squirrel wanted it too, and forced them out.

Now to the present, the woodpeckers are back and are trying to reclaim their nest.


Here is the pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers:

Birds14Apr2022_207print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


At various times they each take a turn flying to the hole and looking in:

Birds14Apr2022_240print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Birds14Apr2022_231print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Birds14Apr2022_232print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Eventually this provokes an angry reaction from the squirrel. So far it has always been in there when the woodpeckers show up.

Birds14Apr2022_242print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Here is another try:

Birds14Apr2022_364print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Birds14Apr2022_277print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Birds14Apr2022_365print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


In the midst of all this flurry the male took an opportunity to investigate another existing hole lower down on a broken branch of the same tree. He went all the way in, turned around, and stuck his head back out. This may be their backup plan if the squirrel eviction is not successful.

It will be interesting to see how it all goes this summer!

Birds14Apr2022_322print by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Marshall