Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

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!

Intermission

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Wow, that was a LONG intermission!!

Predators ruled the roosts as last summer's nesting season progressed.  I wish I wouldn't take it so hard, but always do.  Remember when I laughed at the parent bluebirds who warned their nestlings of a snake's approach...laughed because the parents didn't know the snake couldn't defeat the baffle on the pole?  No one told me there was a resident 6+ foot rat snake who would enjoy the last laugh.  Re-design 486 now in place!

Meanwhile...

The Fuzz who owns the place (aka Drake) was diagnosed with a treatable liver disorder but in the course of the diagnosis they found a large mass on his spleen.  They removed his spleen and gave us the good news there was no cancer.

Recovery from surgery was a breeze.  Ice his incision multiple times per day for 10 minutes?  No problem!  Put the ice pack over the incision, lean a pillow against it to hold it in place, tell him to stay…come back in 10 minutes.  Love this dog!

Then the “fun” began.  Don’t ever let anyone tell you an organ is “not essential”!  I have devoted every day, and countless sleepless nights, staying ahead of all that has come at Drake since July.  You know how I am about animals, right?  So far, we’ve met all the challenges without a hitch.  Drake starts each day as he always has…thoroughly sniffing every single rung of the fence to discover which creatures were in/out during the night.  I’m glad he can’t tell me.

Drake on Ice

Of course, the resident birds are undaunted by all that daunts me.  I dared to go away for a night...leave things in my daughter's hands.  I told her she didn't need to worry about the birds.  I'd take care of feeding them when I got home.  Up pops this text message from my daughter early the next morning:

Angry Bluebird

It (Momma Bluebird) wants what she want EVERY morning.  I see you.  Get out of your chair and feed me those live mealworms!

The uplifting stories are piling up as the birds now appear in pairs.  Mr. Northern Cardinal is courting...tempting a female with gathered delicacies.  One Momma Blue has nearly completed her first nest.  The Eastern Phoebes are trying to keep the House Finches off their platform.  I have NO IDEA where the wrens nested, but they're out there somewhere.  And the Northern Flicker?  I'm breaking the fast with his story.

Intermission Ends Now