I spent Sunday morning on the golf course.  I know a while back there was a
thread about woodpecker populations, so I thought I'd send on a note about
my observations.



Mallard Creek Golf Course is located in Lorain County in Columbia Station on
State Route 82 (Royalton Road) between Grafton and Strongsville.  The course
is on the north side of the road.



While golfing, I counted somewhere between 28 and 32 Red Headed Woodpeckers.
They were everywhere I looked.  There certainly is a possibility that some
individual birds were counted more than once, but I did my best.  The golf
course has a large population of Pin Oaks, plenty of mature trees, but not
as much dead wood as would be expected.  Many RH Woodpeckers were feeding
young in nest cavities.  On several occasions I saw the birds feeding young
in cavities that were not excavated by the bird in dead wood.  Instead,
these birds have taken Pin Oak trees where the course has cut down the
branches and used the resulting bulb or tree scar as a nest.



If anyone has an interest in going to the course and trying to get a count
of these birds, let me know.  I know a few people at the course and might be
able to make a connection for you.



For those interested, I shot an 83!  Pretty nice Father's Day gift to
myself!



Spencer A. Ryan

Avon Lake, OH




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