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Red-headed Woodpecker
2002 Breeding Success Survey
Cuyahoga County
Sponsored by
Natural Areas Division
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
This photo essay documents a visit on July 20, 2002, to a
Red-headed Woodpecker nest first discovered by Wendy Weirich
and Susan Jones at Forest Hills Park. It is one of many
sites being monitored throughout Cuyahoga County this summer
by
Tom Leiden and Paula Lozano.
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Access to this nest site was a path through the
woods behind the Cleveland Heights
Recreation Center. |
As we came into the clearing, an adult was
spotted at the top of a snag.
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We tried to guess whether or not Tom's
digital camera, which has a 50-foot limit, could reach
the nest cavity.
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The nest cavity was in a dead snag at the
edge of the clearing. A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers were
calling to each other and flying into and out of the woods.
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While the
video equipment was being set up, the adults made frequent
visits to the nest site. The sounds of begging young could
be heard, too! |
As we monitored the
Red-headed Woodpeckers, they watched our activities, too!
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Tom's camera was raised up. Would it reach?
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The camera momentarily
was caught on a near-by branch. |
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Following Paula's
instructions, Tom positioned the camera in front of the
hole.
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As soon as the camera
was in the hole, we saw three small, featherless young.
Since their eyes were still closed, Tom estimated that they
were approximately 2 to 3 days old. |
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Paula told Tom what
the nestlings were doing.
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Finding a nest with
such young birds put a
smile on Tom's face!
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Tom was able
to maneuver the camera into the nest cavity because the tree
was on a slope,
allowing the top of the pole to reach the entrance.
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Bob and Paula watched the
adults as Tom
carried the equipment away from the site.
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Immediately an adult
arrived and entered
the nest. |
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It stayed inside the cavity
for several minutes... |
...finally reappearing
and setting off to find more food for the nestlings! |
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The next stop was a nest site in Bay Village.
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