[birding] Lots of Lewis's Woodpeckers near Jefferson, Marion Co.

[Joel Geier]

Hi folks,

Today I joined Bob Altman for a visit to a private property near
Jefferson, which has been burned recently as part of an oak
savanna/prairie restoration. It's a cool place with some amazing oaks
that are probably 400+ years old.

The count of 15 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS (LEWOs) that I mentioned previously
was from Bob on his visit to the site yesterday. The site's owner
reported upward of 20, maybe even 40, at this site about a week ago. A
number between 20 and 40 is certainly believable. 

Today Bob, Barb Bresson, Barb's friend Fritz and I put up three LEWO
nest boxes in the hopes that, just maybe, a pair might stick around to
nest next spring -- though most of these birds are probably just
migrants heading through.

We saw what we figured were at least seven LEWOs flying around & caching
acorns, though it was hard to get an exact count since they were flying
around overhead and calling, just about all of the time. 

Several times we saw LEWOs being chased by SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS that seem
to have homed in on these slow-flying birds. We thought we heard a
COOPER'S HAWK too. At one point three LEWOs flew across the site with a
Sharpie on their tail. Perhaps harassment by accipiters is what keeps
the woodpeckers moving south.

Anyway, it seems like a good sign to have this many Lewis's Woodpeckers
back in the Willamette Valley.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis