Bird lore - Project Puffin

Observations on Woodpeckers
By WILL O. DOOLITTLE, Munisingr, Mich.
As MUCH of the wealth derived from the natural resources of the Upper
r\ Peninsula of Michigan is still found in the timber, that form of bird
life which has a direct effect upon the forests is of importance to the
landowners, as well as of supreme interest to the bird student.
Northern Michigan woods are thickly inhabited by such forest-dwelling
birds as are found in the families of Wood Warblers, Vireos, Creepers, Nut-
hatches, Titmice and Kinglets, and all of these have an appreciable value in
the protection of trees and the conservation of wood products. It is to the
Woodpeckers, however, that the timber owner has come to look for the most
thorough protection from the insect pests which are known to be detrimental.
The effect of the woodpeckers upon growing trees and finished wood products
has been so comprehensively handled by the United States Biological Survey,
in several excellent bulletins, that a discussion here of their value would be
superfluous. However, a few personal observations of the several species of
Woodpeckers found in the forests of the North may be of interest.
A special opportunity for close observation of the Woodpeckers was afforded
the writer, late last summer, at a small projection of land in Ross Lake, School-
craft County. This piece of land contained about one hundred hemlock trees,
which had been killed by lire, and which, to judge from the feast they were
affording the Woodpeckers, were the hosts for vast numbers of borers and other
wood-infesting insects. On the small projection of land were observed feeding
at the same time. Hairy, Downy, Pileated and Arctic Three-toed Woodpeckers.
The last were the most numerous, and, as the species is rare south of the
straits, it was considered a piece of good fortune to be able to spend several
days in the vicinity and note carefully its habits.
In Chapman's 'Handbook' there is the following quotation from Audubon,
on the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker: "It is a restless, active bird, spending
its time generally on the topmost branches of the tallest trees. Although it
cannot be called shy, its habitual restlessness renders it difficult of approach."
The writer's observations are entirely at variance with this conclusion of
Audubon's. Of the four species of Woodpeckers feeding on the dead hemlocks,
it was the only one that did not ascend to the higher branches. Practically all
of the Three-toed Woodpeckers' feeding was done on the trunks of the trees.
If I had been in possession of a good camera, on the bright days, there would
have been no difficulty in securing good pictures of Picoides arciicus at lunch.
Unfortunately, the only time I had a camera was on a dark, foggy day, and,
as the camera itself was a poor affair, not even a distinct picture of the trunks
of the trees could be secured.
The Arctic Three-toe displayed no habitual restlessness. On the contrary,
the birds were the most industrious and patient of any of their family. They
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