Bad Finnish Birdwatcher

Thursday, March 29, 2007 - Tiny woodpeckers got the moves

On the lake shore there's a belt of alder-forest. At some places it's replaced by my moist meadow, which is threatening to be overgrown with alder as well. This kind of forest left in it's natural state with a lot dead trees is a haven for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker(LSW).

Today I had some time to follow the courtship of these tiny woodpeckers. I don't think the males have settled their disputes over the borders of their territories just yet. And the females - they haven't chosen a mate yet either. I watched a female mind it's own business feeding high in the trees for quite a while. And all the time a male followed it like a shadow, keeping a safe distance and shouting at regular intervals. Finally, the male flew on the same tree as the female. A peculiar play followed. The woodpeckers circled the tree trunk making funny noises, spreading their wings and all the time the female kept the male on the opposite side of the trunk - at least I supposed it was the female that was the more reluctant one here. This went on for at least ten minutes. Sometimes they took breaks and just motionlessly watched each other from the opposite sides. Eventually the male got frustrated and flew away. It got some consolation after the rejection from drumming on a dry tree. It was still drumming when I left.

This woodpecker was there shouting already yesterday and it will be there tomorrow and the day after that and so on. So, I'm sure he'll get lucky eventually. Hmm... tomorrow is friday, could this be a tactic to be applied in human interaction as well. I (don't think so, but still) wrote a four-point plan for you boys in the bars.

Picking up women LSW -style:

    1) Shout as loud as you can
    2) Bang your head against something that makes a good noise
    3) Go harass the chosen female, be persistent!
    4) If unsuccesful, return to 2)

Repeat the program every day until you succeed.

Here's how it's done LSW -style: first, look around and pose in the sun...

...and then - close your eyes and bang your heart out!

Friday, March 30, 2007 - ha!

Posted by gladan

*garvar* Det är ungefär så med människor, den som får mest uppmärksamhet och skränar högst får ju sin partner... Vi och fåglarna har fler likheter än man tror.

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Saturday, August 4, 2007 - Birdwatching

Posted by Ben

I just picked up your link on Fatbirder. I enjoyed your humorous article. I have only been in Finland two months now and discovered Vikki is on my door step. None of your rarities yet. Still I am amazed to see so many UK winter visitors summering here. Had a beautiful view of an Osprey in Vikki yesterday.

Ben

benindegiovanni@yahoo.co.uk

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