Woodpecker WESTERN BIRDS 



was quite evident that Mr. Woodpecker did not approve 

 of bread for growing birds and, too, that he felt quite 

 equal to caring for his nestlings without human aid. 



When I had watched this nest for ten days, one of 

 the nestlings began peeking out. The top of its head 

 was red, otherwise it resembled its parents. Often when 

 the old birds came with food they fed this ambitious 

 youngster six or seven times. They did most of their 

 foraging from the old trees in the park, and it was quite 

 evident that they were doing a great work in ridding 

 them of insect pests. 



Ordinarily, the birds worked quietly but when excited 

 by some interference of picnic parties they have a sharp 

 "crip," and sometimes a longer rattling sound was given. 



I had watched at the nest fourteen days when the 

 young finally left the hole and disappeared into the 

 foliage above. A week later the parents were digging 

 into the limb on the opposite side, making the chips fly 

 in all directions, and I wondered if another hole was to 

 be excavated. It proved, however, to be only a bit of 

 experimental work on their part which was soon given 

 up. These birds have a way of using old holes, or per- 

 haps new ones, for bedrooms, seeming not to mind 

 excavating for that purpose, if no suitable old hole is at 

 hand. 



GENUS DRYOBATES: NUTTALL'S 

 WOODPECKER. 



Nuttall's Woodpecker: Dryobates nuttalli. 



FAMILY— WOODPECKERS. 



On the Pacific coast is found another woodpecker 

 midget which is found from southwestern Oregon, south 

 to northwestern Lower California, west of the Sierras. 



14 



