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Flying Squirrel Cam "Woodpecker attack".
Photos by John C in Dickerson, MD 2003
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Woodpecker attack
About: A documentation of an attack from a Woodpecker.
I was able to get photos from 2 different cameras during this 1 minute attack.
One of the night vision cameras is placed inside of the box and the other is placed outside of the box.
10:01:49 AM - Woodpecker beak. The Red-bellied Woopecker sticks its beak into the box
but cannot reach that far since the entrance depth was extended for that reason.
It appears as though its tongue tip is sticking out on the right as a probe.
It is the dark area that is bent down at about 45 degrees.
10:02:
10 AM - Two Flying Squirrels notice woodpecker's presence. They seem to be hugging.
The one in the back/right is either pushing the small one down or it is getting ready to charge the entrance.
It is also making itself look larger and more intimidating by puffing up the fur around its face and neck.
10:02:
17 AM - Angry Flying Squirrel just recoiled from charging the entrance. The actual
"charging" position was seen and not captured. This is what happened:
It quickly jumped up and pushed both of its hands
at the entrance and then retreated into the nest. It looked like a fearless little boxer
delivering a double-punch.
I've seen cornered Cottontail Rabbits exhibit this same behavior.
10:02:
28 AM - Woodpecker on outside of the entrance. It is either unmoved by the
squirrel's charging motion or it did not notice the motion as the bird's head was not
completely in the entrance at the time.
10:02:
52
AM - Woodpecker already left the box. The Woodpecker didn't stay as long as usual.
Apparently my adding 2+" to the entrance depth on Jan 4, 2002 has shortened this bird's reach
to the point that it just gave up. Its beak could only reach 1/2" inside the entrance hole this time.
Before the depth extension, it could reach about 4", which is the distance to the top of the nest.
Defense stance example from another day. On this day something cast a shadow on the entrance
so this Flying Squirrel looked in the entrance and then reacted like shown. It hunkered
down its head to make its neck look fatter. Its arms seem stiff and its whole body looks puffed up. About 5 seconds later
it went back into the nest. I'm not sure if it ever charged the entrance because I wasn't at the camera controls.
A beak was seen in the entrance about 1 hr earlier but only a shadow was seen this time.
Another unsuccessful Woodpecker attack. They
seem unmoved, with only one of them noticing and then quickly going back to sleep.
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Created: 1/5/2003, Updated: 3/7/2003.