Dennis and Tweeters,



Around Alki I'd say our experience supports your observations. We see
Flickers in all seasons, but when they're calling a lot as they are now,
it's hard to not have one in earshot anywhere, and we're some distance from
'woods' in parks or greenbelts, though if you go to one, such as Schmitz
Park, you can hear several during a short walk. Out near the Lighthouse,
the nest of our nearest Flicker is in a utility pole. The male works on it
and then calls, and then goes back to work on it some more. Considering the
location - utility pole surrounded by an asphalt parking lot, the street,
parked cars, and high density buildings, I asked my wife what she thought
his sales pitch was. She said, "well, for sure he's looking for a city
girl."



We have starlings too, lots in the breeding season, but my money's on the
Flicker.



--g



Gary T. Smith

Alki Point



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis
Paulson
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 3:50 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] the urban woodpecker etc.



Lately I've been running errands all over Seattle, and I have often parked
in residential neighborhoods near my destination. It seems everywhere I go I
see and hear Northern Flickers, often just flying overhead. Some of these
neighborhoods are totally open, with just scattered trees, nothing like a
woodland in sight. Obviously flickers are doing very well in the urban
setting. The only woodpecker that normally feeds on the ground, they need
trees only for nest holes, and I guess they are finding enough of such
places throughout the city. I guess another possibility is that some of
these birds are wintering birds or migrants and aren't actually nesting in
those neighborhoods, but I have heard some birds giving their spring "song."



Interestingly, I've seen a fair number of starlings in these same
neighborhoods, and the flickers must be competing successfully. I think
flickers are here to stay.

My first Band-tailed Pigeons and Orange-crowned Warbler for the year were in
the yard today. Varied Thrushes, Townsend's Warblers, and juncos (except
one) all left during the spate of beautiful weather last week.



Also, I reported two "female" Purple Finches in the yard a few days ago,
and, to my amazement, they have stayed around. This morning one was singing
away, much to my delight, so it's doubtless a first-year male. I've noticed
many times that it is the first-year males that try to breed in suboptimal
habitats, which the city clearly is for many birds. Almost all the
Black-headed Grosbeaks that have hung around and sung persistently in this
neighborhood in spring have been first-year males. I'm not sure any of them
ever attracted a mate; the females know better.



-----

Dennis Paulson

1724 NE 98 St.

Seattle, WA 98115

206-528-1382

dennispaulson at comcast.net