This was out at our sunrise vantage point this morning. The boxes are part of the equipment attached to a pole out there. It's a bit unsightly, but I believe it's for science — weather, maybe, or is it surveillance?
Wherever music has emerged, hasn't the first musical instrument always been the drum? (That is, the first instrument beyond the musician's own mouth.) Or is it the flute?
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My first instrument in a band was a drum. I, like this bird, also like tapping on any and every surface to see what resonance I can get. When I'm impatient my fingers do the intro drums to Cheap Trick's version of "Ain't that a Shame." (Hat tip to the great drummer Bun E Carlos.)
A red shafted flicker found our metal chimney cap is a great way to share his presence with the neighborhood. And especially loud and jarring inside the house
I thought they use the noise to attract a mate.
Where have I heard that rapid background beat that inspires the Woodpecker? Hmmm.
I know, that Pecker has a woody because he's...
Hot for Teacher
They love tin roofs
We had a pileated attacking the other bird he saw in the window reflection, along with the woos trim surrounding it. aif this happens to you skip the people that swear by those pinwheel distractors and fake owls. Cover the area with a tarp until they move on…
The Song of my people:
BRRRRRRRTT!
We have woodpeckers that occasionally attack the metal flashing around a skylight. Perhaps the mate-attracting idea is why.
Many years ago my then home had aluminum siding. For about two weeks a wood pecker would give the side of my house a trial pecking for long periods daily.
Lot of noise. No positive results and irritated me greatly.
Woodpecker (D).
They look for the metal. they are mental.
The first percussion instrument may have been the beer belly;
or perhaps butt-cheeks.
Or maybe that's just me.
Drum solo - woody in birdland
Thrumming is part of woodpeckers calls. Sometimes they will peck on the hood over my furnace outlet on the chimney. Loud as hell.
According to Genesis 4:20-21, Jubal was the first musician, and he played strings and pipes.
"Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes."
But God made birds on the fifth day of creation before He made humans on the sixth day, so I suppose the woodpecker percussionists beat them to it!
He beats the drum that makes his whole tribe dance.
Walking back to the car, I had to pass very closely by a sandhill crane. It didn't move away at all. In fact, it walked along beside me. I said what I usually say when passing a crane: "Hi, sweetheart."
Ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha
That's the Woody Woodpecker song
Ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha
Yeah, he's peckin' it all day long
He pecks a few holes in a tree to see
If a redwood's really red
And it's nothing to him, on the tiniest whim
To peck a few holes in your head
Ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha
That's the Woody Woodpecker tune
Ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha
Makes the other woodpeckers swoon
For the last several days, we have had migrating woodpeckers coming through our neighborhood. The good news is that they mostly seem to be drumming for mates rather than boring for insects. As migratory birds, they hopefully will leave soon.
It is illegal to kill/trap/etc. migratory birds. Don’t leave suet out, and you can put up distractions like shiny aluminum foil, or fake predators to scare them off. Fake owls for example. However, they can learn that your decoys are, well, decoys and ignore them.
The CIA is spying on you Ann. You are too much into Free Speech.
In fact, it walked along beside me
They are not small birds- I would be worried they might go full aggressive swan on me. Once on the golf course a blue heron was walking towards me and I was planning how to defend myself but it crossed my path and grabbed a skink off the bush next to my right shoulder. munch munch…
I'm not a fan of Rap music, and this is not easy to dance to.
When I walk by a crane, I usually get a wolf whistle and then a "Hi sweetheart." Construction sites scare me, but I must admit it's also exciting to be noticed like that.
Woodpeckers like ants.
Ants like electronical boxes.
Thus, a landlord of mine could never get them away from the well pump. To bad effect.
We have a dead royal palm tree at work that a woodpecker has made a hole in near the top. I've seen other birds, including crows, going inside and poking their head out. I took a picture of one just this morning.
I’m weird. I admit it but I’m fascinated by birds. Check out the UCDavis Med Center falcon cam. Every year a pair of falcons comes to the top of the hospital and raises a new crop of baby falcons. It’s amazing how many small birds they have to kill in a season to feed their young. https://www.earthcam.com/usa/california/davis/?cam=ucdavisfalcon
Our house has cedar siding. We have woodpeckers. Large ones.
They don't stick around for long. And they warn the others.
I would not have thought Meade was into head banging music.
Woodpeckers gonna peck. Just like beaver gonna dam. Even when they're in a high rise apartment.
"The Song of my people:
BRRRRRRRTT!"
I see what you did there Drill SGT.
Woodpeckers do drum to attract mates. I hear them in the spring. Rattle rattle rattle followed by a raucous call.
Love it. Reminds me of a woodpecker who did that to our house gutter for many years.
That looks like a flicker. Around here the local species is the orange-shafted flicker and they drummed on the side of the house so much we finally put chicken wire up in that spot. (It worked.)
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