[EBB Sightings] Re: Mines Rd., San Antonio Valley Rd., Del Puerto Canyon

[EBB Sightings] Re: Mines Rd., San Antonio Valley Rd., Del Puerto Canyon

Les Chibana
Tue May 10 12:40:02 PDT 2005
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    Ken Archambault sent me a note about the Lewis's Woodpecker nest on San 
    Antonio Valley Rd. just south of the Junction (Del Puerto Canyon Rd. 
    intersection) and wanted me to share it with everyone since he's not 
    able to post at this time. About 3-4 weeks ago, he shot footage of 
    European Starlings entering the Lewis's Woodpecker nest cavity 
    (apparently the same nest hole). The two parent woodpeckers were very 
    agitated. He was not sure if the starlings predated any of the 
    woodpecker chicks, as they were in the cavity for several minutes. 
    (However, I have not found any reference that says that starlings 
    predate on other bird's eggs or nestlings.) Previously, he saw an adult 
    woodpecker enter the cavity with acorn. I'm not sure if he assumed that 
    this food carrying activity and the agitation meant that there were 
    chicks in the nest, or if he actually heard chicks. But I believe 
    parent Lewis's Woodpeckers feed their nestlings insects and berries, 
    rather than acorns. The latter becomes part of their diet after they 
    fledge. Since their incubation time is about 2 weeks and fledging 
    occurs after another 30 days, it's likely that when Ken saw this 
    activity, there may have not been any nestlings in the cavity. There 
    might have been eggs and the adult was just taking in a snack.
    
    Les
    ---
    Les Chibana
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