Yellow- Bellied Sapsucker 189 



with outspread wings. The scene was so interesting that I took a seat on a 

 nearby rock intending to see what might develop further. Soon another 

 butterfly fluttered to the ground, and then I discovered that others — in fact 

 nine in all — had already feasted so extensively that they had sought rest on 

 Mother Earth. Six still held their places by the little springs of sap. Would 

 they also be overcome? Also what had punctured the tree to let out the sap? 

 Surely butterflies could not perform such a feat ! 



At this moment something dropped from among the limbs above and struck 

 lightly on a nearby tree near its base. It was a Brown Creeper, and my eyes 

 followed it as it worked its way upward for perhaps twenty feet. Suddenly a 

 bird that I had not before seen seemed to emerge from the bark just above 

 and the Creeper was driven away. There, on the tree where it had been all 

 along, was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. But for the Creeper I should probably 

 not have seen it. The Sapsucker's colors blended so perfectly with the bark 

 of the tree that I doubt if a Hawk could have discovered it as long as it remained 

 motionless. A little later the Sapsucker gave two rather sharp but plaintive 

 calls, but its cry was not answered. The bird-glass in my hand revealed the 

 fact that numerous little holes were yielding their sap up there where the 

 Sapsucker clung. Within a minute I discovered the bird drinking from the 

 fountains he had opened. 



The mystery of the holes from which the butterflies were feeding was solved. 

 Looking about I found that two other nearby trees also had little openings 

 picked through the bark from which the sap was flowing. It seemed that the 

 Sapsucker had established a regular cafeteria for himself; evidently he intended 

 to have plenty of food while he stayed with us. 



The summer home of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker extends over the wooded 

 regions of the southern half of Canada, New England, and the northern tier 

 of states. In the mountains it ranges to North Carolina. The Red-naped 

 Sapsucker is the western variety of this bird, and its habits in general are the 

 same. In summer Sapsuckers are said to be very noisy and call and scream 

 and chase each other about in a very boisterous manner. Like other Wood- 

 peckers they drum at times on dead limbs. 



For a nest the birds dig often in a living tree from twenty to fifty feet from 

 the ground. From five to seven white eggs are laid in May or early June. 

 These rest on a layer of fine chips picked from the sides or bottom of the 

 cavity for the purpose. In the neighborhood of the nest there may be found, 

 if one will only search long enough, what is called a 'Sapsucker's orchard.' 

 This is a small group of trees from which the birds get their living. Hundreds 

 of holes, usually squarish or elongated in shape, are dug through the bark until 

 the wood is reached. The soft inner bark or 'cambium' is eaten at once and 

 the holes soon fill with sap. Here the birds come many times every day to 

 feed. New holes are added at intervals until the trees become thickly 

 pitted with them. 



