maccool
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Green Woodpecker fights off Blackbirds! - 2006/05/17 16:39
I am curious to know why Blackbirds would perceive a Green Woodpecker as a threat?
I have at least one nest of Blackbirds in my garden, and the young are now out and about. I have to say, they are a bit thick! I had one youngster fly into my studio yesterday, and even after turning off all the lights, with the door to outside open (there are no windows), the fool thing could not be persuaded to fly outside of it's own accord. Happily, it was easily captured and released.
Today I watched a strange event. There is a Green Woodpecker family which has lived locally ever since I've lived here in North Beds. which is about 12 years now. Outside the door of my studio is a small area of paving, and today I happened to see, with the door open, a Green Woodpecker looking for food between the cracks of the paving. What a splendid sight! I don't often get that close to one of these beauties, about 6ft.
Then 2 adult Blackbirds pitched up, all upset and ruffled, and tried to see off the Woodpecker, who was having none of it! After much beak clacking and spreading of wings and tail on the Woodpecker's part the Blackbirds backed off, for a while, and the Woodpecker went back to digging between the stones. Then the Blackbirds would have another go, with the same results. In the middle of this exchange, a male Chaffinch showed up and hopped around, unconcerned, and unnoticed by the bigger birds.
Something eventually caused the Woodpecker and the Blackbirds to fly off into trees.
Now, I realise that the Blackbirds, one male and one female, were probably parents of some of the youngsters around, and the Green Woodpecker is a much bigger bird. But why would the Blackbirds perceive the Woodpecker as a threat? Was it simply because it was on the ground, in their territory? That seems unlikely, since they don't harrass the Wood Pigeons so. Are they jealous of it's fabulous colour? If they aren't, I am!
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