There can be significant drama in the back story of an image that we miss when looking at a single photo. Such is the case with this image of a male Northern Flicker that I took last May near the border of southwest Montana and Idaho. I’ve told this story before but mostly with different images.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
The flicker was in the process of further excavating a nest cavity in a dead aspen that had been used the previous year by Williamson’s Sapsuckers. Here he’s preparing to enter the cavity but there’s more going on than meets the eye. The flicker is under attack.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
The aggressor was a much smaller but very persistent male Mountain Bluebird with his own designs on the nest cavity. Whenever the flicker was near the entrance to the cavity the bluebird would dive-bomb him relentlessly. The action was so furiously fast that I never was able to get both birds sharp while the bluebird was attacking in flight but this image should still allow the viewer to “get the picture”.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Whenever the flicker was away the bluebird and his mate would attempt to claim the cavity (these bluebirds are also cavity nesters). This competition went on for several days and by the time I left Montana for home the outcome was still to be determined.
On my return trip to the area a few weeks later I learned that the flicker won the battle but both birds lost the war.
This is the nest tree as I found it in the rain on my second trip in June – it had been chopped down by campers for firewood and there were broken eggs inside the cavity (I reached inside and placed one of the broken eggshells above the entrance). The flicker had apparently won the battle with the bluebird because these eggs were white (flicker eggs are white and bluebird eggs are usually pale blue) and they were too large to be bluebird eggs.
My original intention with this post was to only post the first image of the flicker but once I got into it I couldn’t see not telling at least part of the back story even though I’ve told a different version of it before. After this much time I thought this sad story was worth retelling.
Ron
PS – Because of a very slow moving winter storm I’ve been unable to go shooting for five days now and I’ve been going batty with cabin fever. But it’s looking like we’ll have some light this morning so I hope to be able to scratch my itch. I can hardly wait!
Hiss and spit.
It doesn’t matter how often I hear that story it makes my blood boil.
Self-important oxygen thieves. How I wish someone would cut down their homes for fun.
Stunning images – which make my heart hurt more.
Thanks, EC.
APRIL FOOLS!!! Just kidding folks…..the devil made me do it ….
I thought your account had been hacked so I deleted those comments…
Awwww … geeeeeeze … this kind of thing just breaks my heart. Sometimes … and more and more often these days … I’m ashamed to claim the human race as my own. Bless the birdies. Well, I hope the bluebirds found a better spot. Great, great images, as always!!!
Lois, I know how soft-hearted you are (that’s a compliment) so I also know that this kind of thing truly does break your heart. As it did mine.
Just makes me want to SCREAM every time I encounter the sheer oblivious stupidity of some humans! Cop a CLUE here!! Open your eyes! Oh it just makes my blood boil!
What a spectacular, if also saddening series of photos. I hope the flickers could recycle and raise a new family.
And as usual, just spectacular photos. It’s such a joy (and sometimes sad) view of their everyday lives, which to me is utterly and completely fascinating. And yes, the backstory is a special part of each photo. Thank you! I don’t say that often enough.
Hope you get out soon. We’re having thunderstorms here…not thunderboomers that I lived with in Texas, but soggy nonetheless! 🙂
“I hope the flickers could recycle and raise a new family”
I hope they did too, Laura, though I never saw them again on my trips back to that area. Hopefully they moved out of the “neighborhood” and were successful somewhere else.
This makes me angry. The campers I mean.
Susan, You can imagine how angry I was when I found the tree chopped down and broken eggs instead of a cavity full of baby birds as I expected.
Ron, as usual your story is very interesting. I had no idea that a Bluebird would even dare compete with a Flicker! Brave soul! I wish, for the sake of the ignorant, one could put a ribbon or some marking on trees that should not be cut by campers! If they can’t appreciate nature, they should not be camping. Your pictures are excellent as always!
We have bright sun here today, and the high is to be 56!! Wishing the same for you.
“We have bright sun here today, and the high is to be 56!! Wishing the same for you”
It was a beautiful morning on the island, Jane. It’s also supposed to warm up. My spring fever has been resurrected.
This an interesting posting…the Blue Bird zooming in on its target and the Flicker’s obvious distress, anticipating the attack…also a sad one, as it brings back anger and depression at the blind stupidity of someone destroying the tree to toast marshmallows or hot dogs–“blind” because there were obviously so many nesting holes, a real nesting condominium, that the moron that chopped it down had to be blind not to see them.–an ass that apparently was camping in “the great outdoors” to “enjoy nature”…(.where was the hungry bear when we needed it?)
“an ass that apparently was camping in “the great outdoors” to “enjoy nature””
Well said, Patty – the sickening irony of it all is overwhelming.
I remember you telling this story before about campers cutting the tree down. It is sad that a sign of some sort wasn’t put on the tree to tell campers that this tree is NOT firewood.
However, didn’t realize a battle for nesting rights was going on before the tree was cut.
Many thanks for this “back story”! Hope you have some good shooting today.
That tree was full of nesting holes, as I remember…that should have been “sign”enough…besides, cutting downt trees for firewood is isually illegal in most parks and campsites…as is bringing in your own wood from outside…
Well Patty, we all know about obliviously stupid humans! Still steaming about that! I just want to strangle some people, just for being stupid!
Dick, there were several other species battling over this cavity too, including Tree Swallows. It was really something to witness.
What an interesting show that idiot could have had….all the jerk had to do was watch….that’s the biggest, depressing part of the irony!!!…(How does that Bible thing go…is it the meek, the weak, or the weak-minded that will inheirit the earth…..if it’s the weak-minded, it seems to be happening)….
That whole idea of dominion/domination is my biggest and most profound disconnect with religion.
“Back story” is one of the reasons I love this blog! Blue Bird showing up does give a clue as to the flickers distress. Most folks just don’t think about such things when doing what they want/need to do. 🙁 Good shots and story!
“Back story” is one of the reasons I love this blog!”
Thank you, Judy. I’m glad you enjoy the stories too