Mexican birds do the strangest things (1 Viewer)

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Bonnie Jauregui

Rancho Primavera

• Sep 17, 2007

• #1

In Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco we have observed some behavior which we would like to know if they are "normal".

The acorn-woodpeckers raid the humming-bird and oriole feeders. The hummers don't take much notice, but the black-vented orioles fight the woodpeckers to the ground (and I mean literally) and guess who wins? Is it normal for woodpeckers to take over sugary feeders? Is it normal for woodpeckers and orioles to fight?

We had to put up another feeder around the side of the house so the orioles wouldn't go hungry. Strangely though, the streak-backed are defeated by the black-vented, but they stand up to the wood-peckers. Explain that......

Also I have a friend that has a pair of Mexican Hermit hummingbirds on his property that are tending to two nests simultaneously, he would like to know if this is documented as regular behavior.

Birds are so much fun,

Bonnie

 

Lisa W

I really need to get out and bird more

Staff member

Supporter

• Sep 18, 2007

• #2

Bonnie,
Sorry I can't be of a lot of help. I've never seen the Acorn Woodpeckers take over a feeder. I have seen a Gila Woodpecker take over a feeder and just about drink it dry. Would assume they would do the same with an Oriole feeder.
Have not heard off hummingbirds tending two nests at the same time.
Lisa

 

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Dave B Smith

Well-known member

• Sep 18, 2007

• #3

Bonnie,
The Rufous-breasted Hermit male will actually "watch over" several nesting females. We watched one male making his rounds of 3 nests pretty regularly. According to R. Ridgely (Birds of Panama), while the males protect the nest, they don't actually participate in the rearing (most hummer males have nothing to do with this).

You might also want to check out this thread on some other Hermits in Venezuela.

 

Steve Gross

Well-known member

• Sep 18, 2007

• #4

The first photo I ever had published was of an Acorn WP at a hummingbird feeder. It was taken at Santa Rita Lodge in SE Arizona. It's quite a common site in that area. I've not observed the oriole/woodpecker interaction you speak of, but it's certainly the case that they each visit feeders designed for hummingbirds.

Enjoy your birds.

Steve in Houston

 

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Bonnie Jauregui

Rancho Primavera

• Sep 18, 2007

• #5

Lisa, I love your pictures, I need to take some of the acorns and send them to you. The little acorns drink the feeders (both the hummingbird and the oriole) dry. So do the bats (we have tons of them also, even vampires).

Bonnie

 

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Bonnie Jauregui

Rancho Primavera

• Sep 18, 2007

• #6

Dave, thanks so much for the link to the Hermits in Venezuela, it sound very much like what we have in Mexico.

Bonnie

 

Lisa W

I really need to get out and bird more

Staff member

Supporter

• Sep 19, 2007

• #7

Bonnie, Thanks. I would like to see the Acorns on the feeders. We are getting the bats migrating south right now and the feeders are DRY every morning. Lucky for me only lasts a couple of weeks up here.

 

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Bonnie Jauregui

Rancho Primavera

• Oct 31, 2007

• #8

Acorns on hummingbird feeder

Lisa, I finally got some shots of the acorns (they had disappeared when their snag fell down). I don't have a camera like yours nor do I know much about photography, so my pics aren't anything like the beautiful ones you take.
Bonnie

 

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Lisa W

I really need to get out and bird more

Staff member

Supporter

• Oct 31, 2007

• #9

Bonnie,
Nothing wrong with these shots - at all. This gives a new meaning to one of our nicknames for the Acorn Woodies - Clowns. They do look like a pair of little clowns up on that feeder. It also looks like one is on guard while the other drinks. Good behavior shot!
Thanks for posting it.
Lisa
Oh, and thanks for the compliments about my shots - a lot of luck goes into each and everyone of them.