Daily woodpeckers

by Sharon miller
(Choctaw, OK)

We are so thrilled to watch our 2 pair of woodpeckers everyday.

We have a pair of little Downy's and a pair of the Red Bellied Woodpeckers. The Downy have drilled into a broken cottonwood tree limb.

I read that they don't come to birdbaths but I fill a rectangular plant tray daily with water. I have the tray at the bottom of another Cottonwood
tree where we hang a feeder. The woodpeckers have become accustomed to the flat homemade feeder which we made in hopes it would make it easier for them to get the food opposed to hanging awkwardly to get food from the pole feeders. They walk down the bark of the tree to
drink while still clinging to the tree. I laugh that they seem to fear touching the ground.
We put out black sunflower seeds, corn, and peanuts.

We have even forgiven the little Downy who one year was determined to make his winter haven our dormer siding. Hanging a muppett Kermit
Doll between the blinds and the window on the dormer scared him away from drilling a third home.