Red-bellied woodpeckers gone? (1 Viewer)

[ilbirdwatch1]

I keep a pretty detailed daily log of what birds come to my feeders and at what time. Since the beginning of spring up until mid May I had a pair if Red-bellied woodpeckers visiting my feeders. Lately I have not seen them. I know they were staying in an old half dead tree in my neighbor’s backyard. Do you think they have moved on to a different location? For a while the starlings and grackles were hitting my suet feeders pretty heavy. The red-bellied did not seem to be bothered by them. He would fly in and chase them off when he was eating. Hopefully they return! I always enjoyed watching them!

 

[Gary Polliard]

My red-bellies love the large suet cakes and the squirrels do also. That is the only thing they come to and feed from. Look forward to seeing them everyday.

 

[KC Foggin]

Now, I've actually seen Starlings take over a nesting spot in one of my dead trees and move the Red-bellieds out. Really broke my heart to see how upset the Woodpeckers became so that is a possibility as to what might be going on here. They may have moved a bit further to nest but be assured, when the eggs hatch, they'll be coming the suet feeders to supplement what they are feeding the hatchlings.

 

[ilbirdwatch1]

I had Monday off and was able to enjoy most of the day working in my home off and watching the birds come to my feeder. I was really excited to see my male red bellied woodpecker visit the suet feed a couple of times. I’m guess that they are still around, but may have moved locations. Plus they are probably visiting the feeder while I am at work. Hopefully they continue and we get to see some fledglings!

 

[carjug]

Red Bellies okay here, base of the smoky mountains.
Whar is Collinsburg, anyhow? I's in North Carolina, we gots Red Bellies, Pilieaters, and them cute lil Downy's Woodpesters. Ya can see Flickers sometimes, and in the winter the Sapsuckers come down with the city folk for the winter. Seen a Red Head once!
The Woodpeckers here are doing Okay, Maybe in a few hundred years the Cockaded will make a comeback.

 

[Zoogoer2000 - Packwatcher]

If grackles and starlings are become an issue on suet feeders, swith to an upside down suet feeder. If mesh is only on the bottom (Meaning woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, etc. can access as they have no issue hanging upside down but starlings and grackles have a very hard time doing this)

Just place it as high as possible so that grackles and starlings don't start making short trips to get suet

 

[ilbirdwatch1]

Thanks Zoo, I’m building a peanut feeder right now and I found some good instructions on grackle proofing your suet cage. It’s pretty much adding wood to the side and leaving the bottom open, like you stated. I haven’t been feeding my birds suet that often and it seems that the starlings and grackles have abandoned my feeder because of this. I’m planning on being home all this weekend, so I’ll probably work on my suet and peanut feeders. Thanks again for all your comments and replies!