Chris Southwick, a volunteer "bird bander" with the Puget Sound Bird Observatory Caught, banded and released a Red-Breasted Sapsucker in the Briarcrest neighborhood this weekend. She also teaches volunteers how to monitor local birds with the bird banding program and works with the Shoreline Backyard Wildlife Project to help Shoreline become a "certified" City with the National Wildlife Federation. Shoreline is very close to the goal of certification now. You can help by certifying your yard
by contacting the project at - http://www.sustainableshoreline.org/WildlifeHabitat.html
Interesting fact from Bird web: Sapsuckers get their name from their foraging strategy, which consists of drilling neat horizontal rows of holes into tree trunks and then returning to those holes later to feed on the running sap and the insects attracted to it.
Also significantly, volunteer advocates, Ruth Williams and Janet Way observed many small fish in the channel of a tributary of Thornton Creek at Park #6 entering the Beaver Pond. The Channel in question flows from the site of Hubbard Homestead Park. The Great Blue Heron was also sighted again feasting on many tasty bites there. Volunteers will attempt to get a photo soon that shows these fish. Fish Habitat is an extremely important issue in Thornton Creek Watershed. This creek, which is the largest watershed in Seattle and Shoreline is home to at least 5 species of salmonids. The Hubbard Homestead Park site is controversial currently, because a spring and wetland were to be part of the design for the park. Mr Bruce Hubbard discovered a map showing the "stream" labeled. Citizens point to this stream labeling as signifcant to the future of the promised design.
Seattle Audubon has more details on this beautiful bird.
http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=273
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| Click for WA Range Map |
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus ruberPiciformes
Picidae
Fairly common resident west. Rare east.
General Description
North American Range
Pictures
Habitat
The dense mixed and conifer forests typical
of western Washington are the preferred
breeding habitat of Red-breasted Sapsuckers.
They are often found in mature and old-growth
forests, but will breed in second growth as long
as there are some large nesting trees. They can
also be found in riparian habitats with large
cottonwoods.
of western Washington are the preferred
breeding habitat of Red-breasted Sapsuckers.
They are often found in mature and old-growth
forests, but will breed in second growth as long
as there are some large nesting trees. They can
also be found in riparian habitats with large
cottonwoods.
Behavior
Sapsuckers get their name from their foraging
strategy, which consists of drilling neat horizontal
rows of holes into tree trunks and then returning
to those holes later to feed on the running sap
and the insects attracted to it. Unlike most
woodpeckers, they forage in healthy trees
and can actually kill a tree if they drill too
many sap-holes around its trunk, although
this is quite uncommon.
strategy, which consists of drilling neat horizontal
rows of holes into tree trunks and then returning
to those holes later to feed on the running sap
and the insects attracted to it. Unlike most
woodpeckers, they forage in healthy trees
and can actually kill a tree if they drill too
many sap-holes around its trunk, although
this is quite uncommon.
Diet
The main food of Red-breasted Sapsuckers is
tree sap. They also eat some insects and fruit.
They take more insects during the nesting
season, and they feed insects to their young.
tree sap. They also eat some insects and fruit.
They take more insects during the nesting
season, and they feed insects to their young.
Nesting
Much is not well known about the nesting
behaviors of Red-breasted Sapsuckers.
They form monogamous pairs, and both
members of the pair excavate the nest cavity.
Nests are usually built in deciduous trees, such
as aspen, alder, cottonwood, or willow, but they
may also be in firs or other conifers. The nest
is often high, 50-60 feet off the ground. Both
sexes typically incubate the 5 to 6 eggs for 12
to 13 days. Both feed the young, which leave
the nest after 25 to 29 days. The young are
probably dependent on the parents for ten
days or so thereafter. Red-breasted Sapsuckers
typically raise a single brood each year.
behaviors of Red-breasted Sapsuckers.
They form monogamous pairs, and both
members of the pair excavate the nest cavity.
Nests are usually built in deciduous trees, such
as aspen, alder, cottonwood, or willow, but they
may also be in firs or other conifers. The nest
is often high, 50-60 feet off the ground. Both
sexes typically incubate the 5 to 6 eggs for 12
to 13 days. Both feed the young, which leave
the nest after 25 to 29 days. The young are
probably dependent on the parents for ten
days or so thereafter. Red-breasted Sapsuckers
typically raise a single brood each year.
Migration Status
Red-breasted Sapsuckers are the least migratory
of Washington's sapsuckers and the only sapsuckers
that regularly occur in Washington during the winter.
If the weather turns cold enough for sap to freeze,
they may descend into the lowlands or move out to
the outer coast to find food.
of Washington's sapsuckers and the only sapsuckers
that regularly occur in Washington during the winter.
If the weather turns cold enough for sap to freeze,
they may descend into the lowlands or move out to
the outer coast to find food.
Conservation Status
Red-breasted Sapsuckers are considered a keystone species, because many other species use the sap
wells they drill. Their numbers may have declined
because of habitat degradation, but these sapsuckers
are still fairly numerous, and the Breeding Bird
Survey has identified a non-significant annual increase in Washington since 1966. In the Cascades they
hybridize with Red-naped Sapsuckers.
wells they drill. Their numbers may have declined
because of habitat degradation, but these sapsuckers
are still fairly numerous, and the Breeding Bird
Survey has identified a non-significant annual increase in Washington since 1966. In the Cascades they
hybridize with Red-naped Sapsuckers.
When and Where to Find in Washington
Red-breasted Sapsuckers are common breeders
in appropriate habitat west of, and just beyond,
the Cascade crest, to the outer coast. They are
rare breeders in conifer forests east of the
Cascades and may be rare breeders in residential
areas or city parks in western Washington.
Wintering birds can be found in the western
Washington lowlands. They are extremely rare
winter visitors to eastern Washington.
Click here to visit this species' account and
breeding-season distribution map inSound to Sage,
Seattle Audubon's on-line breeding bird atlas of
Island, King, Kitsap, and Kittitas Counties.
in appropriate habitat west of, and just beyond,
the Cascade crest, to the outer coast. They are
rare breeders in conifer forests east of the
Cascades and may be rare breeders in residential
areas or city parks in western Washington.
Wintering birds can be found in the western
Washington lowlands. They are extremely rare
winter visitors to eastern Washington.
Click here to visit this species' account and
breeding-season distribution map inSound to Sage,
Seattle Audubon's on-line breeding bird atlas of
Island, King, Kitsap, and Kittitas Counties.
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