Subject: Where does woody sleep??
Date: Oct 30 16:16:53 1995
From: fredbird - fredbird


A friend submitted the following story and questions...what are the answers?

In late August a male Downy Woodpecker started enlarging the entrance hole on
a chickadee box in our backyard. He finally made it big enough to get in and
out of and beginning about the first of September he has been spending every
night in the box. We mainly see him in the morning. He starts looking out
of the hole around daylight. He spends some time tidying up. Then about 1/2
hour later he flies out with a little bundle of "trash" and is gone for the
day. We have only seen him return a few times, but it has always been before
dark, sometimes 1/2 hour to an hour before dark.

Do you know anything about the sleeping habits of woodpeckers? Is it likely
he'll spend the whole winter using this box? Might he try to attract a
female to this box next spring? Do all woodpeckers sleep "inside" at night?

------------------------------------------------
Fred Bird
fredbird at halcyon.com
1249 NE 92nd Street Snohomish County Council staff
Seattle, Washington 98115 206-388-3494
206-526-5671