1902.
June 8
(No 2)
was one short lateral prong a yard or two from
the top of the stub and directly beneath this, on
the north side of the tree, was the entrance hole
to the Woodpecker's nest. It looked much larger than
that of a Flicker's and, indeed, of a size appropriate
to that of its owners. The edges showed freshly chiseled
wood and the ground beneath the tree was thickly
strewn with chips which had evidently been made
the present season. On the side towards the brook
there was a small opening filled with mountain maples
and a few trees of thirty to forty feet in height
but the hemlocks and birches immediately beyond the
stub rose above it forming a dark
background of solid foliage. The nest was about
sixty feet above the ground.
  When we first reached the place at about 10.30 A.M.
both Woodpeckers were away from home but half an
hour later the male appeared among the trees immediately
behind us announcing his arrival by a single
outburst of loud, cackling laughter. He spent
fully fifteen minutes reconnoitering our ambuscade
which was at the foot of a big spruce. During all
this time he was within thirty yards or less &
perfectly silent. He would occasionally swing gracefully
from one trunk to the next and then remain
clinging for several moments to the stem of a tree
craning his neck to get a better view of us and
occasionally bobbing his whole head, neck & body from
his leg joints. At length he flew into a maple
in the opening nearly over us & remained hidden
7