Re: [SBB] Nuttall's Woodpecker Nesting in Mountain View Neighborhood

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Last May we watched a pair of Nuttal's Woodpeckers excavate a cavity in an old Flowering Plum tree along the street on Cree Dr. in south San Jose. It was only about 4.5 ft above the sidewalk. This past Tuesday the single offspring fledged. This is a first on this suburban valley floor neighborhood. Perhaps the dying tree provided an unusual oppurtunity.

Now a pair of California Towhee's have started a second batch this spring in the same bush near a corner of our house.  I was trimming the bush when the pair began fiercely scolding me.  I discovered the second nest (they are not reusing the old one) with four eggs. My very brief glance into the nest gave e the impression that they weren't all the same (a Brown Headed Cowbird found it?). Now that I have looked up the appearance of the eggs, I plan to re-visit the nest for a close examination.  The description of the eggs in the Smithsonian Handbook, "Birds of North America" sounded very similar with small differences in size, but I'll give it a whirl.



--
Karl Fowler 
San Jose, CA

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Hello, 
> 
> Over the years, we hear Nuttall Woodpeckers on a daily basis in our Mountain 
> View neighborhood. By chance yesterday, we saw a Nuttall's Woodpecker on a 
> telephone line carrying food. As we passed by the bird, it headed to a tree 
> that had a nest hole in it about 15 feet up the tree. As the bird approached 
> and made that distinctive ratttling sound, a little head popped up and took the 
> food. The nest is located at 1779 Wagner St.in a tree on the right front side 
> as you face the house. The street is between Farley and Burgoyne near 
> Middlefied Road. We know the birds nest in the neighborhood but this is the 
> first time we have found a nest hole and residents. 
> 
> Regards, 
> Mary Murphy and George Schuttinger 
> 
> > This email sent to [[email protected]] 
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