[mou] Woodpecker Evidence

[Steve Weston]

while doing the Hastings CBC today, I found about ten trees at Schaar's Bluff near Hastings that appeared to have had their
bark scaled off by a woodpecker.  These deciduous trees were all about three to five inches in diameter and had all the bark
removed from the base of the tree to about ten to fifteen feet high.  The chisel marks from what appeared to be the bill of
a woodpecker were clearly visible.  The shavings of most, if not all, were ontop of the snow, indicating that the removal of
the bark was recent.

I am aware that both Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers scale the bark.  Neither of these would be expected.  There is
one record of a Black-backed Woodpecker in Dakota County, and one of a Three-toed not far across the river.  Do any of the
other woodpeckers methodically strip the bark off of a tree?

Steve Weston on Quigley Lake in Eagan
sweston2@comcast.net