Observations on Woodpeckers 



By WILL O. DOOLITTLE, Munising, Mich. 



As MUCH of the wealth derived from the natural resources of the Upper 

 r~% Peninsula of Michigan is still found in the timber, that form of bird 

 life which has a direct effect upon the forests is of importance to the 

 landowners, as well as of supreme interest to the bird student. 



Northern Michigan woods are thickly inhabited by such forest-dwelling 

 birds as are found in the families of Wood Warblers, Vireos, Creepers, Nut- 

 hatches, Titmice and Kinglets, and all of these have an appreciable value in 

 the protection of trees and the conservation of wood products. It is to the 

 Woodpeckers, however, that the timber owner has come to look for the most 

 thorough protection from the insect pests which are known to be detrimental. 

 The etJect of the woodpeckers upon growing trees and tinished wood products 

 has been so comprehensively handled by the United States Biological Survey, 

 in several excellent bulletins, that a discussion here of their value would be 

 superfluous. HoweN'er, a few personal observations of the several species of 

 Woodpeckers found in the forests of the North may be of interest. 



A special opportunity for close observation of the Woodpeckers was afforded 

 the writer, late last summer, at a small projection of land in Ross Lake, School- 

 craft County. This piece of land contained about one hundred hemlock trees, 

 which had been killed by fire, and which, to judge from the feast they were 

 affording the Woodpeckers, were the hosts for vast numbers of borers and other 

 wood-infesting insects. On the small projection of land were observed feeding 

 at the same time. Hairy, Downy, Pileated and Arctic Three-toed Woodpeckers. 

 The last were the most numerous, and, as the species is rare south of the 

 straits, it was considered a piece of good fortune to be able to spend several 

 days in the vicinity and note carefully its habits. 



In Chapman's 'Handbook' there is the following quotation from Audubon, 

 on the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker: 'Tt is a restless, active bird, spending 

 its time generally on the topmost branches of the tallest trees. Although it 

 cannot be called shy, its habitual restlessness renders it difficult of approach." 



The writer's observations are entirely at variance with this conclusion of 

 Audubon's. Of the four species of Woodpeckers feeding on the dead hemlocks, 

 it was the only one that did >iot ascend to the higher branches. Practically all 

 of the Three-toed Woodpeckers' feeding was done on the trunks of the trees. 

 If I had been in possession of a good camera, on the bright days, there would 

 have been no difficulty in securing good pictures of Picoides arcticiis at lunch. 

 Unfortunately, the only time I had a camera was on a dark, foggy day, and, 

 as the camera itself was a poor affair, not even a distinct picture of the trunks 

 of the trees could be secured. 



The Arctic Three-toe displayed no habitual restlessness. On the contrary, 

 the birds were the most industrious and patient of any of their family. They 



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