First record for Red-bellied Woodpecker

BY GEOFF HOGAN

Sometime during the first week of December 1987 an adult male Red— bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) turned up on the property of Roy Riddlington in St. Catherines, Queen's County. The sighting by Mr. Riddlington and his family in the woods and old orchard trees near the house constituted the first record of this species for the Island. The bird continued to show itself almost daily thereafter, feeding on grains scattered for other birds. The Red—bellied woodpecker is easily recogniz- ed by its black and white "zebra back", a red crown and nape of the neck in the male (the female has only the red nape), and a buffy, unspotted breast. The mid-abdomen region may appear reddish although this may not always be apparent. The species is only a bit larger than a Hairy Wood- pecker.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is considered to be a rare Canadian species being found as a breeding bird only in extreme southern Ontario. Sightings elsewhere in the country are unusual. The normal range for the species is from New York to Florida and Texas. Interestingly, the few sightings

of the Red—bellied Woodpecker in Nova For the next Issue, Scotia over the years have been mostly

during the late fall and winter periods This issue of the Island and, when they do turn up, they are Naturalist was delayed a usually seen at bird feeding stations. bit so that the results of The sighting by the Riddlingtons is in the Christmas bird counts keeping with these observations. Mr. could be included. Dead— Riddlington also noted the woodpecker line for the March—April was not at all intimidated by Blue Jays issue will be the February and, in fact, reacted by driving them 2 meeting of the society. away from the feeding area.

Wel I underway

Naturalists in the western part of Prince Edward Island now have their own club and newsletter. About 50 members make up the Lady's Slip- per Naturalists, and four newslet— ters have been produced so far. Pre- sident Les Homans said the group meets the third Thursday in each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Eptek Cen— ter in Summerside. They are exchang— ing newsletters with the NHS and one will be available at our meetings.

“The most recent issue contained re— ports of meetings, a story on birds in the U.K., sightings, checklists and a variety of other interesting articles. Geoff Hogan (who will be guest speaker at the group's Jan. 21 meeting), Susan Stephenson and Gary Schneider will be working from the NHS end to keep the two groups

vw‘ in touch and hopefully plan some joint outings.

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