All,
As Wayne says, Acorn Woodpeckers are generally sedentary, or non-migratory.
However, they are considered a "pioneering" species. Without going into the
entire fascinating natural history, individuals within family groups must
pioneer outside their families' home ranges if they want to establish new
colonies and pass on their own genes. Females often do this as relatively
young birds (most family groups only contain one female); males may stay as
helpers until they are 5 yrs old before pioneering. Pioneers may venture
well beyond their normal ranges to find suitable habitat or potential mates.
Lacking either, they may just keep going. Manual clearing of oak trees,
pathogenic infestation, or just a failed acorn crop could be some causes for
birds pioneering farther than normal.

Technically, BC is not that far off the flight path for pioneers from Oregon
needing to establish new colonies. More astonishing are records from WY, ND,
IA, and OK, far from the nearest established populations. We may also be
able to correlate recent northern records with current climatic trends
(although correlation does not prove causation!).

Thanks for all the input on these very cool, very unique birds!
Steve Shunk

On Sat, Jul 10, 2010 at 2:03 PM, Wayne Weber <contopus at telus.net> wrote:

> Steve and Tweeters,
>
>
>
> There were two very recent records of Acorn Woodpecker in BC: one at
> Princeton from May 24 to 28, and one at the Manning Park Lodge on May 27.
> These were only the third and fourth records for BC.
>
>
>
> Acorn Woodpeckers are normally quite non-migratory, and very rarely show up
> as vagrants outside their normal range. However, something funny seems to be
> going on this year.
>
>
>
> Wayne C. Weber
>
> Delta, BC
>
> contopus at telus.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu [mailto:
> tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] *On Behalf Of *Stephen Shunk
> *Sent:* Saturday, July 10, 2010 9:39 AM
>
> *To:* Jalferness at aol.com; tweeters at u.washington.edu
> *Subject:* [Tweeters] WA and BC Acorn Woodpeckers
>
>
>
> Jan and Tweeters,
>
> According to my records, yours would be the northernmost Acorn Woodpecker
> for Washington. The northernmost I have (up to at least 2007) were two
> records for the fall of 2006, in Jefferson and Spokane counties.
>
>
>
> As you probably know, most WA records are from Klickitat and Yakima
> counties, with records also from Clark and Gray's Harbor counties. There are
> also 2 records for BC: 1996 in Maple Ridge (spitting distance from Blaine,
> WA), and in 2003 in Oliver (Okanagan Valley).
>
>
>
> I am not caught up on the last few years and would appreciate anyone
> filling in those gaps for me on more recent records.
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> Steve Shunk
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 12
> Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 12:29:19 EDT
> From: Jalferness at aol.com
> Subject: [Tweeters] Acorn Woodpecker on Guemes Island
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Message-ID: <c5214.182547e9.3968a85f at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> We were at our cabin on Guemes Island (just North of Anacortes) last week
> and had a female Acorn Woodpecker at our sunflower seed feeder one day. She
> came several times, but only that one day. Of course it didn't help that
> my
> husband was nailing shingles on a shed roof right near the feeder.
> Attached are a couple of poor quality photos. Love that white eye!! We're
> going
> up to the island again next week so I will be watching for her then. Does
> anyone know if they have been seen in that area recently, or ever?
>
> Jan Alferness
> Port Orchard
> _Jalferness at aol.com_ (mailto:Jalferness at aol.com)
>
> _
> http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=SandyAlfernessJeter&target=ALBU
> M&id=5491933988061932385&authkey=Gv1sRgCIqOmLu927jLPg&feat=email_<http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=SandyAlfernessJeter&target=ALBUM&id=5491933988061932385&authkey=Gv1sRgCIqOmLu927jLPg&feat=email_>
> (
> http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=SandyAlfernessJeter&target=ALBUM&id=54919
> 33988061932385&authkey=Gv1sRgCIqOmLu927jLPg&feat=email<http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=SandyAlfernessJeter&target=ALBUM&id=5491933988061932385&authkey=Gv1sRgCIqOmLu927jLPg&feat=email>
> )
>
> --
> Stephen Shunk
> Paradise Birding
> Sisters, OR USA
> www.paradisebirding.com
> 541-408-1753
>



--
Stephen Shunk
Paradise Birding
Sisters, OR USA
www.paradisebirding.com
541-408-1753
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