The Work and Workers of Spring

As spring firmly establishes itself in the hemisphere, our thoughts and activities often shift to spring cleaning and the renewal that a change in seasons brings. Laura Ingalls Wilder once said, "Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat." With spring's arrival, we tend to smile more, taking a moment to admire nature's magnificent reemergence after the short, cold nights of winter.

Rainer Maria Rilke expressed it well: "It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart."

The tasks of spring should not be overlooked, as we are aware that the heat of summer is approaching, often delaying accomplishments due to thick humidity and sweltering temperatures.

Last week, our Red-headed Woodpeckers returned. We hadn't seen them since the fall. Their whereabouts during this time remain a mystery, but they have returned to the feeders, chasing away the Red-bellied woodpeckers and titmice. Throughout the day, we can hear all four of our woodpecker species tapping and excavating. The Downy woodpeckers communicate with rapid drumming, the Red-bellied woodpeckers complain as they swoop through the forest, the Pileated woodpeckers announce themselves from the canopy, and now the Red-headed woodpeckers assert themselves over other birds that are not pleased with this larger intruder at their feeding stations.

When not busy at the feeders or making their presence known to the neighbors, our woodpecker friends are occupied with excavating their nesting cavities. These holes are subsequently used by numerous species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. Recent studies indicate that 20% of bird species worldwide depend on tree cavities for roosting and nesting. Woodpecker cavities offer protection from weather and predators, providing a safer nesting place for many birds. To learn more about "The Hole Story," check out the spring issue of Living Bird from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Red-headed Woodpecker