 Woodpecker tree along Wood Creek, Elmwood Park. February 12, 2013. |
Some birdlife at Elmwood Park in Omaha, is fully involved with what is still a pending spring according to the human calendar.
The excitement of the season was especially obvious at Shadow Lake. While looking for waterfowl, a strident call was heard, and determined to be a Red-bellied Woodpecker. A moment's time later, another of this species arrived, to land nearby. It was a verbal duel, that led to an active tussle, for a bit of time during which both birds tumbled together, downward from the sky. Then they broke apart and once again landed on a nearby tree, to once again express their claim.
The antics will make a difference in who spends the breeding season in the territory. Not too far west, a cavity of a tree is an apparent home place, which hopefully will not be overtaken by starlings.
Along Wood Creek, a Hairy Woodpecker was taking advantage of a large snag tree to convey his intention. The sound resounded. Even a smaller sized Downy Woodpecker came to visit.
On the southern extent of the golf course, a couple of red-tails were courting a third Red-tailed Hawk. A pair landed on a prominent perch, while the "outsider" screamed and soared away towards the north.
There were a bunch of cardinals singing away their morning, being predominant along Wood Creek and Happy Hollow Creek, to the north, along the boulevard. Mourning Doves were newly arrived. A lot of Black-capped Chickadees were obvious in the creeks-side woods. And finally, of some indication, there were more robins around than there have been during recent weeks, especially near the flower-plots on the south side of Memorial Park.
Sadly, not a single Winter Wren, or even a Carolina Wren was heard or noticed. Juncos linger.