South Burlington Birds: Woodpeckers pair up-photos

Summer bird watching tip: To attract woodpeckers in the summer use a hot weather safe food-unsalted dry roasted peanuts.

To entice the woodpeckers to stay near the feeder to eat the peanuts- drill holes half way into a tree branch and hang it next to the peanut feeder. The woodpeckers at my house often remove a peanut from the feeder, then hop onto the tree branch, placing the peanut in one of the holes, and commence to breaking up the peanut to eat the tasty morsels.

Sometimes I see one woodpecker feeding another in this manner; surprisingly it is usually a male feeding an adolescent.

For those musically inclined woodpeckers, I have attached chimes to the bottom of the peanut feeder. This way the woodpeckers’ can play us music while dining.

Bon Appetit!