Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

Woodpeckers

Boy Meets Girl. Northern Flicker Return – Part 2

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The live camera feeds were displaying on the television on February 11 during our bi-weekly bridge gathering.  As we watched, Mr. Flicker appeared in Cabin North instead of his prior Cabin East residence.  My friends shamed me for failing to keep the cabins clean.  No wonder Mr. Flicker moved…East was a mess after four months of unchanged bedding!  The shaming was successful.  I promised to clean Cabin East the next day if they promised to deal me better cards.

I was vindicated a short time later (after my friends left, of course).  Mr. Flicker returned to Cabin East.  As I was shedding the shame, the complete picture came into focus.

What?

THREE FLICKERS!!

I think my parents talked to me about the Birds and the Bees when I was a kid, but I didn’t realize the discussion was literal.  When a single girl moves into the neighborhood word gets out – even in the bird kingdom.  So here they are (still in their private spaces as of 07 March).  The Retreat owl houses are full.  No Vacancy.  Mr. East Cabin (yes, I cleaned it).  Mr. North Cabin (the newbie).  Ms. South Cabin (the magnet).

Somehow, I failed to save the video when Mr. East visited Mr. North…letting him know he was on to him. There was some fluttering but no dueling beaks.

Mr. North was Undaunted

The feature video entices us to imagine what the future will hold as Boy Meets Girl.  Mr. North followed Ms. South home (while Mr. East slept in his clean cabin).  As you will see, Ms. Flicker was quite animated by the visit.  I’ll have to leave it to you to decide if she was flirting or threatening.  She certainly seemed surprised when Mr. Flicker responded to her display by exiting.

What I can tell you is this:  Ms. Flicker went out for a bit after the visit. I can hear my parents now.

Northern Flicker Return – Part 1

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Northern Flicker Returns

It amazes me how birds return, year after year, to a given location.  2019 marked the 5th annual Northern Flicker return for his winter roost.  I don’t know, of course, if it is the same Flicker but I believe it is.  He arrives between 10/13 and 10/24 as if he put on his calendar:

”Head to winter residence mid-October”.

Okay so, yes, in 2018 he had a conflict and didn’t arrive until January 1st 2019.

Looking at him sleeping, it is easy to understand how young Roger Tory Peterson thought the clump of grey Flicker feathers he encountered in the woods was a dead bird.  (Remember Roger's story?  The Northern Flicker Will Astound You).

There’s just something about seeing "my Flicker" come home and tucking himself in that warms my heart each winter evening.  He lifts my spirits, makes me laugh, when the weather is abysmal…heading back to his little wooden cabin to nap through a chilly downpour.  He can sleep through ANYTHING!  I admit, his antics and his stunning beauty make him my favorite winter resident.  (If you are new to this blog, there are several prior Flicker posts underscoring this admission:  Flicker in Flight, Didn't Read the Instructions, Done With the Rain.)

I Count the Northern Flicker Return Each Year as Among my Many Blessings

There are so many times during these past months God has blessed us.  One January day, January 15 to be exact, I was driving home and found myself thanking God for a whole series of blessing that were on my mind. When I sat down later that evening, and looked up at the bird camera images, I noted my Flicker was in for the night.  And then…it registered…there were TWO Flickers.  Mr. Flicker was in the east owl house…Ms. Flicker was in the south owl house.  Reach your own conclusion.  For me, it felt like a gift from God.  That night my worries about my dog, Drake, sure felt a lot lighter.

Female Flicker - Image 1
Female Flicker - Image 2

Unlike Mr. Flicker, who nestles down in the wood shavings to sleep, Ms. Flicker sleeps clinging to the wall of the house – always the wall where the entrance hole is.

Stand by for Part 2

Don’t get too excited…no shared nesting…no eggs…but we can always hope for a Part 3!