26 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8:1— Jan., 1912 



In this study of the Downy Woodpecker, the figures, obtained 

 relative to feeding, furnish an excellent example of the economic 

 value of this bird. Each of the 124 trips to the nest, probably 

 represents the destruction of several insects, harmful to trees, 

 or perhaps, the tgg mass of some insect, which, if allowed to 

 hatch, might do much damage. Yet, even this record takes into 

 no account the insects eaten by the parent birds, during the day. 

 Certainly, a little effort expended in attracting these useful birds, 

 in greater numbers, about orchards, parks and lawns would lead 

 to telling results on the trees thereabout. 



Table showing Number and Frequency of Feeding of Young of 

 Downy Woodpecker. 



TOTAL 36 88 124 6.9 



By way of comparison with the data gathered on the Downy 

 Woodpecker, it is interesting to have a day's record of a family 

 of Red-Headed Woodpeckers. This nest was located in a hollow 

 limb, which had been put upon a pole, in the writer's backyard, 

 with the hope of attracting Bluebirds. The Bluebirds came late 

 in April and began nesting. Early one morning, about a month 

 later, a pair of Red-Headed Woodpeckers attacked them, and 

 after several hours of hard fighting, completely routed them. 

 The Woodpeckers then tore out the Bluebird nest, throwing the 

 three young Bluebirds (almost fully grown) to the ground 

 killing them. From that time, the Woodpeckers' possession of 

 the hollow limb was undisputed. Here, they raised two broods. 

 This relay .study was made about ten days before the first brood 

 left the nest. There were at least two young birds in the nest. 



