On the trail of the White-headed Woodpecker

Our beautiful White-headed woodpecker, a bird that most of us see daily, can be looked at two ways by birders: either as a “rare bird” or “trash bird.” To someone living in Great Britain, Australia, or New York City, it comes under the heading of “rare.” To those of us who live and play in the pine forests around Sisters, this lovely woodpecker is, in the vernacular of the birder’s language, a “trash bird” — underfoot and seen just about any time all year.

If you attend a bird-watcher’s meeting in Erie, Pennsylvalnia, however, and, mention, “White-headed Woodpecker…” a curtain of silence will usually drop and everyone in the room will look at the person who spoke the magic words.

Then the person who said the magic words will usually go on to explain where and when he or she had the thrill of discovering a white-headed. If it was in Oregon, chances are it was Cold Springs Campground west of Sisters.

I have had birders call, write and send e-mails from New York, Massachusetts, Australia, Great Britain and Europe asking if I knew where they might see our magnificent white-headed. I always send them to Cold Springs, as that’s most always a “sure thing” for making contact.

I will always recall with fond memories the look of delight on the faces of those who see the white-headed for the first time. Similarly, I always get that same rush when I see one today, although I’ve been stumbling over them for over 50 years.

Both sexes of White-headed Woodpeckers look almost alike in plumage and size, however, males have a bright red cap on the back of their nifty heads.

Woodpeckers are unique birds. They are built to do what they do best, pound out big holes in trees for food and nests. They are the only bird that has its tongue attached to its nostrils, curve back over the forehead and then enter the mouth through a hole at the base of the skull.

This marvelous adaptation provides woodpeckers with an extraordinary tongue they use to poke into the holes and scoop out tasty — and quite often, harmful — beetle grubs. They also have feet built for clinging to the vertical surfaces of trees and houses and stiff tail feather to help prop them up.

It is that business of clinging to the sides of houses that sometimes gets woodpeckers in a heap of trouble. Much to the chagrin of residents in Black Butte Ranch, White-headed Woodpeckers, and others of their ilk have the fascinating habit of pounding holes in the cedar siding of homes, using them as sounding boards to notify all within hearing that, “This is my territory and YOU KEEP OUT!”

There is a method of convincing woodpeckers to go away that beats shooting them (which is not lawful or intelligent) or going to the expense and trouble of putting fake owls all over the place.

Mix up a solution of butter (or Smart Balance, if you prefer) and a healthy shake of cayenne pepper or curry powder. Put a tiny dab — and I mean tiny — on the spot where the woodpecker had been pounding out his message of ownership. When said woodpecker’s tongue makes contact with that hot powder he will stop beating out his message, head for the nearest water source and probably leave your home alone.

If you have a white-headed nesting near you, and you have a relative or friend in Maryland, call them and invite them out, it (the bird) will probably be a “Lifer” for them. And if it’s during Quilt Show, or Library Book Sale times, all the better — that’s when the woodpeckers fledge their young.