NORTHERN FLICKER (YELLOWHAMMER): Fellowship with Nature

Widespread though out North America, Northern Flicker is usually found both in open woodlands and in suburban areas. Unlike other Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker forages on the ground for Termites, Spiders, and Ants. When people walk through the woods, they will often flush Him out while He is busy foraging.

Because of his popularity, Northern Flicker is called many names by many people in many places. His name “Flicker” may come from either flicking his head about or from his distinctive “Wick-err” call. In New England and the South, He is best known as “Yellowhammer” for his yellow feathers. Meanwhile, in other areas, He is called “Yarrup”, and “Wick-up” from his calls. Some other names include “Gaffer Woodpecker” for his ground foraging habits.

Northern Flicker prefers nesting in the cavities of dead trees. However, He will improvise at times. In the desert, Northern Flicker will excavate a nest hole in a giant cactus. In the suburbs, He pecks at buildings and TV satellite dishes, when He cannot find suitable trees.

There is something about watching this Bird moving about that makes you feel connected with life. Native Americans believed that Northern Flicker brought happiness and good luck. With his red spot on his head and yellow undersides, Northern Flicker stands out in our minds. He is a friendly being who promotes fellowship with nature. Listening to his “ki ki ki” calls, we feel at one with nature. Join Northern Flicker in deep friendship.

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Science Notes:

1. Flicker (Colaptes auratus) (sometimes called “Yellowhammer) is a member of the Woodpecker Family. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) of Europe is a member of the Bunting Family.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Elusive Hope

Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis)

In 2004, news broke that the nearly extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker was sighted by a kayaker in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge of Arkansas. As this electrifying news spread, everyone wanted to go there to see the “Lord God Bird”. But, after a few tantalizing glimpses, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker became elusive again. Meanwhile, naturalists began sighting this bird in the panhandle of Florida and in South Carolina. Frustrating to scientists was that no clear photos or nests were ever presented by anyone.

Once plentiful in the Southeastern U.S., Mexico, and Cuba, Ivory-billed Woodpecker gradually disappeared as the old growth Cypress trees were cut down. By the 1940s, many naturalists regarded this bird extinct. However people still reported hearing its loud drumming, and continued to find various feathers of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Moreover, many field guides still featured this bird.

Then, in 1986, a group of naturalists searched the jungles of Cuba for Ivory-billed Woodpecker. One of the expert birders, a friend of mine, told me that the rugged terrain hampered their search for this elusive bird. However, his fellow naturalists did glimpse the bird, and he also heard its drumming.

Searching for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers is problematic because of the remoteness of the regions that he can be seen in. The Cache River Refuge covers a huge area, which is aomost impassible. Also, the areas in Florida and South Caroline are swampy, with few clear passageways.

Since scientists need proof such a nest, a dead bird, or a clear photo, they cannot declare the Ivory-billed Woodpecker found. Like UFOs, about ninety-five of the sightings can be explained by something else - usually a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), leaving only five percent unexplainable. In cryptozoology (the study of hidden animals), stories of the imagination need to catch up with the pragmatism of scientists before they can be declared real. Such is the case of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker – many stories but scant proof.

To me, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is real. Too many people tell of their glimpses of this bird. Also, no one really wants to declare the bird extinct. Instead of being lost to us, many people hold out hope that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker can still be found.

But, Too many variables exist to pin down this bird. Perhaps, Ivory-billed Woodpecker only exists in our imaginations. Our dearest wishes and desires holds the bird to our reality. Since we have not given up on the Lord God Bird, we work to restore it to its former glory. Meanwhile, Ivory-billed Woodpecker has not given up on us. Somewhere in the swamps, an Ivory-bill Woodpecker drums loudly and waits for a friendly human again.

Sources:
Conversations with Donald B. Adams, 30 Sept., 2008.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Interior, “Ivory-bill Woodpecker”, 28 Nov. 2008

NOVA: scienceNOW, “Ivory-billed Woodpecker”, 28 Nov. 2008


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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

From Universal Class, fun self-paced classes taught by me:

Finding Your Animal Teachers

Working with Your Animal Allies, Teachers, and Totems

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Adventures in Feeding Birds (2)

Watching birds come and go at my feeder has been fascinating. More birds arrive in the mornings rather than in the afternoons. Alone and in pairs, chickadees, finches, jays, nuthatches, sparrows, titmice, and more feed daily. In the afternoon, a pair of squirrels (litter mates) come to the feeding table.

To attract the wrens and song sparrows, I set out dried grapes, millet, oatmeal, suet, and peanut butter. Although some wrens did visit to eat the fruit flies from the bananas, the song sparrows came more frequently. The suet also attracted Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice and nuthatches. I was surprised that they would leave their trees to come and eat at my table.

The most timid of birds, the titmice nervously check out my feeder. They hop on the balcony railing, then the chair, table, and finally the feeder. If one of us are moving about in the living room, they fly away. When another bird flies by, the titmice disappear. However, they do come back after scoping out the area.

In contrast, the English sparrows are cool customers. They do not care who else is there. Acting as if they own the place, these sparrows plunk themselves down wherever. As other birds come and go, they fluff themselves out and watch the parade.

A ladder-backed woodpecker comes to feed as well. Once she brought her fledgling and fed him on the railing. Wielding her beak as a dagger, this woodpecker battle the squirrels for food. Meanwhile, they twitch their tails and “chee” at her. Then the squirrels would move far away from the menacing woodpecker.

I enjoy the antics of the squirrels. Seemingly as if they flying in the air, the squirrels sail from tree to tree to the railing to the feeder. The one-eared squirrel will stare at me for more food. If I do not respond, she taps on the window at me to come and feed her.

Meanwhile, a young blue jay perches on the railing, squawking at me for more food. Daily he comes and he taps on the window when he cannot find the food he likes. I think it is funny that the young jay thinks he rules the feeder. Actually, the woodpecker with her stiletto beak is the true monarch.

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

My connection with Nature (1)

My connection with Nature is complex. Although I live in an urban area by the railroad tracks, I am surrounded by nature. For me, the various plants and animals have adopted this unnatural place.

The oak and maple trees behind my garden condo shade my small balcony. A little intermittent stream appears when it rains between the two garden condo buildings. The rocks, lining the stream, provide places for snakes to sun themselves. Of course, there are the squirrels, who nest in the trees.

How do I honor the earth? I do it in small ways. The local woodpeckers bother the neighbors with their noise. They like to drum on the gutters at daybreak, waking everyone up. I teach the neighbors the names of the various woodpeckers in our neighborhood. (We have Pileated, ladder-backed, downy, and hairy.) I think that my neighbors will appreciate these birds. One elderly man now refers to them as the ‘big bird, middle bird, and small bird.’

Also, I am known as the snake lady. Often, I will see someone with a shovel ready to whack a snake. I scream, “DON’T KILL THAT SNAKE! IT EATS RATS!” They generally thrust the snake and shovel at me, demanding I get rid of it. I usually take the snake to the local wildlife rescue person.