> The sapsucker was just a bit nervous at my presence, but whenever I
> spooked it with an unexpected move, it quickly went back to the line
> of sap wells. It would feed for a couple of seconds at a hole, then
> scootch over and feed at the next hole, and so on.

I'm amazed that the sap is already rising in the maples. Seems a little
early. Did the spell of warm weather fool them, or do they maintain a
supply of sap in their stem all winter?

> 2. Unrelated: I moved here years ago from the Midwest, where
> Black-capped Chickadees make a whistling (and slightly mournful)
> "feebee" call. I have this species in my yard, but I can't recall
> hearing that song. Do I need a hearing aid or is this behavior
> missing here?

The west-side BC Chickadees make a more rapid fire and less mournful feebee
call than the Chickadees on the other side of the Cascades. It took me
awhile to recognize it when I moved to Seattle. Now I'm back in Pullman
where they sound "right."

Kelly Cassidy