The Turnaround

  I have heard that European Starlings are quite aggressive birds.  They compete for food and even suitable nesting sights.  Since they usually are cavity nesters, they will push out the Eastern Bluebirds and woodpeckers if necessary.  Still, I was elated to find that a pair of starlings was nesting in the dead Black Gum tree just outside the front door.  This tree has housed everything from bluebirds, wrens, woodpeckers, flying squirrels and mice.  A myriad of bugs also inhabit this like any other dead tree.  There are any number of holes that can easily be turned into a cozy home for any critter.  The starlings did not push out any other critters but decided to inhabit a new hole that was carved by a woodpecker last year.  All was perfect in the starlings' world.  They had a cozy nest and had settled in right nicely.  Then the big turnaround occurred.

  Today, I noticed a Red-bellied Woodpecker hammering around on the very same tree.  Granted this bird (or one of the same species) had nested in the tiptop of the tree last year but that tiptop had given way to wind and landed on top of my house.  The woodpecker hammered here and there.  I assumed it was searching for bugs and nothing more.  I kept an eye on the bird from my perfect vantage point of the Herb Garden.  Round and round the bird went.  Each time drew it closer and closer to the nest of the starlings.  Mama Starling had deposited at least one egg and perhaps even two in the nest this week.  When the woodpecker approached the nest hole, Mama Starling let out a terrible racket.  This, most likely, was meant to attract the attention of Papa Starling but he was nowhere to be found.  Mama was on her own with this battle.  She fought well but the woodpecker was relentless. Finally in desperation, she flew from the nest.  That was all it took.  Her vacating the home site gave the woodpecker the advantage.  Into the nest, it dove!  Out came all sorts of nesting material and I am supposing a few eggs.  Mama darted at the woodpecker but it was to no avail.  Her home was destroyed.

  I never knew that woodpeckers could be so brutal but then again, starlings would do the same thing if the roles had been reversed.  They, too, are not above destroying the eggs of another bird and claiming the nest as their own.  Mama Starling flew to the hickory tree to mourn the loss of her home and future little ones.  Not once did I see the father bird.  I wonder if the Cooper's Hawk made a breakfast of him earlier this morning.  There was quite a disturbance outside my window at daybreak. If this, indeed, happened, how tragic for Mama Starling. Perhaps today was the day that she lost everything..spouse, future children and home.  Sometimes life is almost unbearable.  I will try to notice tomorrow if Papa Starling does return or even if Mama does, for that matter.