Are Downy Woodpeckers social creatures?
...this determined Downy, who was excavating a new nest in the same dead branch.
From a historical perspective, the Nuthatches had clear ownership. They were re-using, for the third time, a nest which they initially created two years before. In fact, this is the fifth year in a row that Nuthatches have nested in this particular branch.
By May 24th, 2020 the Nuthatches appeared to have finished their annual nesting process. they stopped feeding young in the nest and young bird(s) were seen leaving the nest. Their early finish indicated they made good use of the time saved while not excavating a new 2020 nest.
On the same day, the Downy Woodpecker was still hard at work creating its nest. Oddly, at the same time, the adult Nuthatches began removing an extensive amount of nesting material from their well-used nest. Generally, birds only remove nesting material before nesting. Plus, according to Birds of the World, Red-breasted Nuthatches normally have only one brood a year. Birds of the World mentions just one documented case of a wild pair raising a second brood in the same year (Citation Below).
At the end of the Social Distancing post, which relayed this same information with photos and greater details, we were left with unanswered questions. Would the Nuthatches raise a second set of young in 2020? If so, would the Downy Woodpeckers raise their young at the same time and in the same branch? If both of these things occurred, would the process be peaceful? This week's post will answer some of those questions.
The next day, on May 25th, I saw one of the weathered and worn adults back at the entry to the Nuthatch nest. It was not carrying food for their young, or removing used nesting material, but it also had not abandoned the nest site.
The following day, one of the Woodpeckers was back at their nest site while...
... a Nuthatch was still hanging around at the nest.
On the last day of May, the male Downy still appeared to be working on the nest. Cavity nesters often end up with ruffled feathers on the top of their heads while working on a nest site.
With cavity-nesting birds, it is difficult to see when incubation begins. Although, researchers have found that with both of these species incubation is often just under two weeks. When we first see the adults bring food to the next we can attempt to reverse calculate egg-laying and attempt to forward calculate fledging - which is two-and-a-half to three weeks from hatching. However, there are many complicating possibilities. All eggs are not laid at the same time. All young may not hatch at the same time. Not all eggs hatch and not all of the young flourish.
Over the next couple of weeks, I often saw quick flights entering and exiting both nests by the respective occupants. However, the birds were too fast for me to catch many photos. Nonetheless, both species exhibited commitment to their nest sites i.e. site fidelity.
On June 10th, I caught a photo of the female Downy stopping by the nest site.
However, a befuddling experience occurred on June 20th. The Red-breasted Nuthatches once again began removing nesting material.
They were not just cleaning out a few twigs of grass but rather they carried out an extensive removal process...
...with numerous documented trips.
And...
...a considerable amount of energy and effort expended.
Two days later, the female Downy was seen near her nest. She appeared to be waiting.
On the same day, the male focused on the nest site.
And then, for the first time in nearly a month...
...I photographed a Nuthatch bringing food to the nest!
The next day...
...both adults were present and...
...the food deliveries continued.
There was also obvious activity at the Downy nest.
Their situation became crystal clear when the female was seen bringing food to their nest. This happened on the 23rd of June.
Two days later we can see the feeding continued at the Nuthatch nest, six feet above the Downy nest.
On the same day, the male Downy secured a somewhat larger prize.
Three days later we can see the Nuthatches were extremely attentive parents.
Often, one would return with food while its mate was still in the nest feeding the young.
I was eager to see the feeding process and sometimes uncertain whether the bird in the window was an adult or a youth. However, up to this point, it seemed the returning adult would only offer food to the young - after entering the nest.
No insect in the surrounding trees was safe.
Downstairs, at the Downy Woodpecker nest, a young bird had reached a similar level of development, on the same day.
The red on the crown most likely indicates this is a young male. Young females usually have little or no red feathers on their crown.
...everything in it.
I did notice the adult acting as though it was looking for the young in the nest.
Nearby, I noticed a beautiful Nuthatch with fully pristine and clean feathers.
Initially, I suspected this was one of the young who had just left the nest. If the timing for this bird's fledging is roughly correct then the egg for this bird was laid around the end of May. Which would mean it was laid approximately one week after the first brood left the nest.
At least one young Downy was being fed in the lower nest on the same day.
The next day, I could still faintly see a Nuthatch in the nest while an adult waited outside.
The Downy feeding continued.
On July 3rd, the upstairs food delivery continued.
As a matter of fact, food delivery for the Nuthatches continued for a couple of weeks.
Some deliveries looked like seeds and some did not.
The length of the food delivery period seems to indicate this was a good-sized brood.
One of the largest and last food deliveries, I documented, was on July 22nd. If we assume this was the date the last young Nuthatch left the nest then we can estimate the final egg in the clutch was laid around June the ninth. This would mean the female may have laid eight eggs during a ten to twelve day period starting around the end of May. This information fits nicely with the concept of a second brood of Red-breasted Nuthatches.
It is impossible to say whether both broods were 100% successful. Maybe the second brood was compensation for a partial failure of the first. With cavity nesters, it is very difficult to determine the number of young in the nest and almost impossible to be aware of any changes to the number from day to day.
For example, in the case of the Downy Woodpeckers I could not prove that they had more than one offspring. I only saw one young at the window at a time. Also, the length of time they spent delivering food to the nest was dramatically less than the Nuthatches. It is curious because Downy Woodpeckers are listed, in All About Birds, as having from three to eight eggs in a clutch.
My observations did not answer all of the questions. However, it appears that both species successfully raised offspring and after the egg-laying stage I did not notice any interactions between the two sets of nesting birds. I would have to admit I did not see any socializing or antagonism between the species. However, sharing the same branch, successful reproduction and mutual co-existence is a fairly mature social solution. It would certainly be wonderful if we, humans, could also learn to co-exist with the lifeforms that surround us.
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Thank You!
to
All of the avian photos and activities mentioned above occurred inside the Arboretum. Sadly, our tax dollars do not fully fund the Arboretum. Due to the Covid19 pandemic, the Arboretum is experiencing a budget shortfall. For example, operating funds that would normally come from the Japanese Garden, the Gift Shop and in-person Fundraising Parties have been significantly reduced in 2020 and the situation seems likely to continue into 2021.
Thank You to glassybaby for helping to address this unexpected need!
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Have a great day on Union Bay...where Black Birders are always welcome!
Black Lives Matter,
Larry
Recommended Citation
Ghalambor, C. K. and T. E. Martin (2020). Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rebnut.01
Going Native:
Without a well-funded Environmental Protection Agency, it falls to each of us to be ever more vigilant in protecting our local environments. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:
1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.
2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)
3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.
4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.
My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.
By the way, my friend Tom Brown pointed out that the application named 'Wildflower Search' is extremely helpful. Click on the highlighted link to see for yourself.
By the way, my friend Tom Brown pointed out that the application named 'Wildflower Search' is extremely helpful. Click on the highlighted link to see for yourself.
This warbler is native to Washington. The question is which warbler is it? Feel free to study the examples in last week's post for clues to help identify this bird's species.
Scroll down for the answer.
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Common Yellowthroat: Included in last week's post was a young, first-year, male Common Yellowthroat. The photo above is either a young female (The light colored gape is the clue to its youth.) or a first-year male, whose mask is just starting to turn dark, and is even younger than the young male in last week's post.
If you follow this link to All About Birds, and check out the photo examples, you will see two birds that look somewhat similar to this one. Our bird most closely resembles the female - in the second photo. However, in many species young males often pass through a phase when then resemble females. For example, look at the fourth photo (on All About Birds). It sure makes me wonder if that bird would have looked like a female just a week or two earlier in its development.
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The Email Challenge:
Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign-up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue.
My functional workaround is to set up my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Thank you for your patience!
My email address is: LDHubbell@Comcast.Net
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Here are a few more nuthatch photos for those who read to the end.
That's a great story, Larry, and you really illustrated it well!
ReplyDeleteI have been blessed with incredibly knowledgeable and inspiring teachers. Thank you! I sure hope you have had a wonderful birdy Spring, in spite of the virus situation.
DeleteWell done, Larry.
ReplyDeleteI assume a note for Washington Birds is in the works?
Thank you! Your knowledge and inspiration is also truly appreciated!
DeleteLarry, your teachers' knowledge and inspiration have been compounded by your curiosity and dedication. We will pass on to other novices your generosity and our learning in any way possible.
ReplyDeleteDavid and Maysie
David and Maysie,
DeleteThank you! It is wonderful that we can all 'Pay It Forward.'Hopefully, the next generation can continue to learn and improve on humanity's relationship with the nature.
Larry