The Sapsucker, Romance and the Mailbox
The Woodpeckers and Sapsuckers have returned to the area. They’ve been busy and some of the trees in the yard are showing signs of constant attention.
The sound of Sapsucker romance is in the air. All week I’ve been listening to the steady tapping of the males sending messages of love and territory. This week the sound went from an organic woody drumbeat to a heavy metal percussion.
The mystery of why the mailbox is always open has been solved. One bright bird brain has taken his courtship to the next level by using my mailbox. Now it’s rap, tap - bang! All day long, every day this week this courtship drummer has been pouring his heart out by beating his head against steel.
All week I’ve tried to get close enough to take a photo. Everytime I tried to get close enough he would fly off. He must have gotten used to me since I was able to get fairly close yesterday. I didn’t push to hard and took nearly a half hour to approach a little bit at a time.
As best as I can make out this is a Red-Naped Sapsucker. There are quite a few around my property. They seem to like the Basswood trees I hate so much. The soft wood must be easier to work. I know if I had to bang my head up against something for a living I’d pick something softer too. But when it comes time for love and finding a mate I guess theres nothing better than head banging a steel ‘drum’.
At this point I was only 15 - 20 feet away and moving closer every so often by inches afraid I’d scare the drummer away. I must have been standing nearly motionless for 20 minutes snapping these photos when suddenly the bird took flight. I was puzzled only for a second. Following the flight I spotted the reason right behind me. Black Jax had to come see what I was so intersted in.
I’m not sure but that looks like an evil grin on her face. I don’t know if she was thinking how tasty a sapsucker would be or if she was just pleased with herself for interfering with my photo shoot.
We hung out together but she wasn’t interested in posing so we ended up going off on our own ways. I went back to garden clean up chores and Jax had some kitty business that still needed attention. Once we left the mailbox it only took a few minutes before the sound of romance filled the air once again.
Rap, tap - bang bang bang! I sure hope it pays off for the little guy. He does have the loudest beat going on in the neighborhood. His heart is in the right spot but his head must be ringing by now. I can’t imagine any girl wouldn’t be interested by such devotion.
April 21st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Those are some serious woodpecker holes in that tree! The woodpeckers are back here too, & I say, go ahead, makes hole in those stupid Boxelders.
You know, they don’t call them “bird brains” for nothing.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Wiseacre : ) welcome home ! .. and I always thought a ’sapsucker” was a cartoon animal ?
Those are great pictures you managed to snap .. amongst the tapping of a tiny, stubborn minded, “sapsucker” .. hum .. now what was I talking about ? LOL
Astilbe .. mine are still sleeping but I think a few more days of this and some rain or water might perk them up a bit .. and what is this about comparing aches and pains ? .. I think I could give you a run for your money on that bet sir ! (ok .. run was not quit the description/verb ? I intended to instigate ?) haha
Joy
PS .. that “I dare you to” always cracks me up by the way : )
April 21st, 2008 at 6:09 pm
So nice to see the snow has relinquished its grip…and that is definitely a wicked grin on Ms. Jax’s pretty face. Here’s to spring, sapsuckers banging on the mailbox and all!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
It looks like spring is visiting you and that means woodpeckers everywhere. Wow… no snow in your post. I’m glad you were so patient to get some photos of your determined sapsucker. It does make you wonder… why the mailbox? I really like the sound of woodpeckers tapping away on wood (although we don’t get the sapsuckers down here) … not sure about the sound of metal.
Happy planting!
Meems @ Hoe&Shovel
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 am
I’ve always like the sound of people who use odd objects in music–saws, pipes, jars, drinking glasses, etc.. Like Stomp or Blue Man Group before they sold out. So, if I were a female of the above, I would be laying eggs about now.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
Great photos — wow, you were patient and it paid off. Loved the romance story too.
Seems wild turkeys are also looking for mates. One was so excited about finding a mate, he didn’t realize it was a reflection and just kept doing his level best to prove he was the one for her. Talk about a stupid bird, ye gads.
Got a tulip this morning —unreal. Have a good day.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Hey! The treelawn tree that I’ve been trying to kill (by planting up all of its root area with shrubs and such in the front yard) is a basswood tree! I share your feelings towards them, that’s for sure.
But my method isn’t working very fast, now that I think about it. Can you send some of those sapsuckers to my house, please?