Pileated Woodpecker blocked hole with sticks (1 Viewer)

[HappyFish]

I have been watching a male pileated go to roost in his tree for about a month now. I stay well back and I only go about once a week. I was holding out hope for a nest come Spring. This week when I stoped by his main hole is cramed full of sticks and a few more are sticking out of another hole just below the main hole which is open to the first hole inside the tree. This does not in any way look like any atempt to build a nest but more like he went out of town for a few days and boarded up before he left town. Has anyone ever seen an event like this? What happens next? This is not the kind of stuff a gray squirrel would stuff a nest or hole with. He did not come home tonight. On a cold wet nasty day he is home by 4:30 and on a warm sunny day he is home by 6:00pm. Thanks for looking. Robert

 

[Katy Penland]

I sure don't know but I can't wait to see the answer if someone else does. :t:

 

[KC Foggin]

Well that makes two of us

 

[Pileated_MO]

I don't know for sure either, but I'm wondering if he may have been working on a nest elsewhere, where he may now be staying. Perhaps another animal is using the hole and stuffed it with sticks? I'd keep watching it and see if anyone else shows up. I personally have never heard of a woodpecker blocking his/her hole until they come back, but I'm no expert. Interesting!

 

[prairiemerlin]

Hmmm.... I would say that a woodpecker didn't do it. I can't say what did - I guess it will be a mystery. Woodpeckers don't actually make a nest - they simply lay their eggs on the woodchips at the bottom of a hole.

 

[KC Foggin]

After watching the squirrels tear off branches on trees the last couple of weeks, I'm wondering if a squirrel could have possibly taken over the nest hole.

 

[TexasFlyway]

Red - bellied woodpeckers had carved themselves a very nice hole at the top of a utility pole across the street from me years ago. This last year I noticed that squirrels had occupied the hole. They ocassionally can be seen carrying twigs and such up the pole.

This may be the answer, squirrels seem capable of all sorts of things.