Subject: [Tweeters] Crabapples and Flicker
Date: Oct 11 13:31:01 2004
From: Desilvis, Denis J - denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com


Tweeters,
Reading Dennis Paulson's e-mail about Nisqually, crabapples, and Cedar
Waxwings triggered a question regarding Northern Flickers eating
crabapples.

Our street in Kirkland is lined with with crabapple trees, and the crop
this year is stupendous. I estimate 150 American Robins and about 50 or
so Cedar Waxwings have been dining regularly on the fruit for the past
two weeks. Last Friday, I thought I saw a Northern Flicker in the
branches of one of the trees eating the fruit, but a passing car spooked
the flicker before I could confirm.

Saturday was a different story: A Northern Flicker was definitely in one
of the trees eating crabapples. I actually saw it take fruit several
times and eat.

Certainly it could be considered opportunistic feeding. Has anyone in
Tweetland seen this type of feeding behavior from Northern Flickers?

May all your birds be identified,

Denis DeSilvis
Seattle, WA
mailto:denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com