WOODPECKER LIFE 



Of late the care of them had fallen mainly on the father, 

 who picked up a living for them as best he could. At times 

 he seemed to try to get away from them — a futile effort, for 

 when they did not follow his undulating flight in their awk- 

 ward up-and-down fashion, they went in search of him if he 

 was gone a few minutes over time. 



Here on the thirteenth of July was the mother seeking 

 shelter away from her former home. Had there been a fami- 

 ly disagreement ? Was the home-nest no longer large enough 

 for the parent birds and their now almost grown-up family? 

 Was she planning for a new brood? Surely not! It would 

 be impossible to rear in a single season two broods requiring 

 so much care. 



Whatever her purpose, here she was, drawing her plans 

 on the under side of the dry old bough. Soon she began to 

 peck out an entrance, and it was not long before the chips 

 were flying in every direction. More than an hour she 

 worked, then flew to the dead top of a tree across the way, 

 where she sat for a brief time, resting and sunning herself. 

 Twice she left her perch to dart out after passing insects, then 

 returned to her labor. Occasionally she swung around to the 

 top side of the dead branch, and tore off bits of bark, either 

 for the purpose of seeing if the hole was going clear through 

 or for securing the insect fare lurking under it. This part of 

 the work continued at intervals, till the bark was removed 

 from all the excavated portion of the bough. All day, imtil 

 about five o'clock, she spent at her task with but little rest, 

 then there was a long visit to the rest perch in the neighbor- 

 ing treetop. 



The early morning hours were probably devoted to com- 

 missary tours, for it was almost eight o'clock when she ap- 

 peared on the scene of her labors and again began to wield 



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