Maple Terrorist, Yellow Bellied-sapsucker

by Leon Hinson
(Wetumpka, Alabama)

I have a beautiful 25' red maple in my backyard. Of late it has been the victim of a migratory, destructive, yet interesting little pest. I will not kill it (that's illegal), but I must rid myself of this darn bird. Today I will buy a rubber snake and a plastic owl to try to scare him off. I also hear that a substance called tanglewood (?) might work. One way or another, the bird MUST go. I am a somewhat serious birder and photographer and I am interested in the little guy, but he's gotta go.