Date: 5/24/26 10:08 am From: Barbara Hlavka <bwhlavka...> Subject: [MDBirding] Re: Possibly odd behaviour by Downy Woodpeckers
I have had downies at my finch feeder year round. Recently I've watched
what I assume is a downy parent taking suet bits to a waiting downy on the
branch above. This happens repeatedly and then suddenly the parent flies
off and the one on the branch tries the suet feeder. I am assuming this is
teaching where to find food. They are all over my backyard right now at
the finch feeder, peanut feeder and suet. Makes me so happy to see them!
Barb Hlavka
Silver Spring, MD
On Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 8:01:21 PM UTC-4 <jonbarr......> wrote:
> A few days ago I noticed a female Downy feeding at my nyjer/sunflower chip
> feeder (a wire mesh cylinder). In the last couple of days she’s been joined
> by a male Downy. By “joined”, I don’t mean one or the other, I’ve
> frequently observed both of them there at the same time, and this evening
> they actually “scared off” a Cardinal who also wanted to feed there. I
> stopped putting out suet back in March, when things seemed to be warming
> up, and even while I had the suet out I hadn’t seen them as regularly as I
> am now.
>
> My initial thought was that some ants or other insects had gotten in
> there, but I’ve refilled the feeder and this has continued, not just as an
> occasional visit but as a fairly steady series of visits. Is this an
> anomaly, or have other people observed similar behaviour?
>
>
>
> Jon
>
>
>
> Jon Barrett
>
> <jonbarr......>
>
> Greenbelt, MD
>
>
>
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