Today’s forecast called for drizzle and freezing rain. But for the moment, the gray skies produced no precipitation. So after missing yesterday’s morning walk because of rain, I seized the opportunity to be out on the home trails again.
The woods were initially quiet. I listened for calls of the red-headed woodpecker overwintering toward the northwest and heard nothing. Sometimes winter days are like that; birds are elsewhere or quietly perching, conserving their energy. On this first day of 2019, many cold days and snow are still ahead. And so, a successful behavioral pattern for the season would have evolved to plan for the worst. Being frugal with resources now may come in handy in a month when the ground may be covered beneath a foot of snow with trees encased in ice.
When I passed the red-headed woodpecker’s territory, I saw a brief flash of the bird flying from one tree to another, busy keeping watch on its cache of mast or looking for dormant insects hidden within the bark of trees. As I approached a nearby stand of eastern red cedar trees, I heard a tufted titmouse; a few seconds later, two black-capped chickadees sounded off; then a white-breasted nuthatch. As I looked up, a downy woodpecker joined the scene with two blue jays following close behind. Soon I noticed a red-bellied woodpecker. I was in the midst of a mixed-species foraging flock.
Stand of red cedar trees near the red-headed woodpecker territory
Sometimes northern cardinals, brown creepers, golden-crowned kinglets, and a few other species join such a group, traveling through the forest, searching for food. So when I hear one of these species, I always stop in my tracks and patiently wait for others to show up. (Of course, the red-headed woodpeckers stay aloof, because they have a much different winter survival strategy.) Joining a guild of foraging species would seem to be much more efficient than being a loner: more eyes looking out for predators and food concentrations on multiple, simultaneous routes, covering greater areas in less time.
Then just as the loose flock of foragers seemed to appear out of nothing, in a few moments, they had moved on. I too continued on my way, with an eye toward the open fields to the west, where a low-flying northern harrier is always a good possibility, before heading home. Just a typical winter morning out on the trails, and a good way to begin the new year.
The home trail and cedars at the western property line
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