Nuttall's Woodpecker - Female 6605 - a photo on Flickriver

            There was a time when I would hike in the foothills and see at least one Nuttall's woodpecker every day. The whole year was their season, and they were residents ostensibly, residents. Then the city and/or county started removing dead trees, and though I fought that for some time, it's difficult without "backup," i.e., others who felt the same. For every argument that woodpeckers and nuthatches and other birds that counted on dead and almost dead trees, I was confronted with the possibility of "spreading disease" like sudden oak ... which should have nothing to do with sycamores and birches and pines. And these birds would eat many of the culprits bringing disease. 

While I was arguing the point individually to city officials, we were all hit with the damage and changes brought about by the increasing drought. We are now in our 13th year or third century if you want to be accurate: California is semi-arid, but so long as there is water somewhere and money to be made from revising history, people will keep moving here and drinking. The nerve!

Nuttall's woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii) is a species of woodpecker named after naturalist Thomas Nuttall in 1843. They are found in oak woodlands of California and are similar to the ladder-backed woodpecker in both genetics and appearance. Nuttall's are a non-migratory species with a geographic range confined to northern California extending south towards the northwest region of Baja California, Mexico. Hence, they ARE residents.

Two days ago, I was walking at Heather Farm, and spotted my first Nuttall's woodpecker of the year. Later in the afternoon, I drove to a favorite spot on Mt. Diablo, parked, and not five minutes later, heard the drumming of the Nuttall's. Yesterday, we were in Sacramento and I saw two in my daughter's back yard. I had my camera, but I wouldn't have gotten either of them by the times I could get it out of my car. This may all be part of the dreaded "false positive," but I'm hoping that these little woodpeckers have regrouped and, taking a hint from nearby Mourning doves, mate four times a year. 

The male has red feathers on the head, and is often confused for the Downy and Hairy. I have no Hair ies.

Taken on: February 22, 2012

Tags:

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Dryobates

Effects

drought

loss

habitat

Basically

California

bird

Found

(by

me)

mostly

oaks

Mt. Diablo Foothills

Northern « less

Sets appears in: • MY Favorites • Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, and Flickers

Groups appears in: • Woodpeckers • Lots Of Woodpeckers more » • Nature, wildlife, and the great outdoors • Woodpeckers of the world • Avian Photography • Wild Nature • Birdshare • Birds ONLY!!! • Bird Portraits • Nature For All: Flora & Fauna • Nature Birds Photos • Woodpeckers - All Woodpeckers - Only Woodpeckers « less

Camera: Canon PowerShot SX40 IS, f/5.7, 1/800 sec, 100mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon PowerShot SX40 IS
Aperture:	f/5.7
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Focal Length:	100mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	+1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	ACDSee Pro 6
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