To Breed or Not to Breed: Potential Nesting Attempt by American Three-Toed Woodpeckers in Northern Wisconsin

摘要

It's no secret that I had at least a modest obsession with Red Crossbills this past year. Little did I know that obsession would lead to one of my most exciting ornithological discoveries to date. On 11 April 2018,I ventured to a new site in Bayfield County Forest about five miles south of Cornucopia (centered near 46.780692,-91.093374), lured by its black spruce-tamarack bog lying adjacent to towering white pines and sand-loving jack and red pines~a mix of conifers no crossbill could resist! The snow was deep yet crusty as I snowshoed along the border of the bog and a recent clearcut. Crossbills flew by left and right, ultimately yielding an impressive five different "types." But it quickly became apparent the story here would revolve around woodpeckers. Many trees were stripped of their bark, piles of flakes accumulating at their bases on top of the snow.