I think the woodpecker is the bully of the bird feeder. We have a nice woods area and a lot of bird varieties visit our feeder, from turkeys and pigeons, to finches and orioles. There can be 4 or 5 feeding at the same time, or several waiting on the pole for their turn. When the woodpecker flies to the feeder, he immediately chases all of the other birds away. I noticed that while the woodpecker is there on the feeder, he does not allow another bird to feed at any of the other pegs while he is there. While other birds can see each other by bending their necks around the feeder, the woodpecker doesn’t just look, but uses his long beak to reach and peck at any other bird on the feeder. The other birds will no longer sit on the pole to watch him. Doesn’t this sound like bully behavior to you? Not sharing an abundance of food or space, and using size to keep all others away so he can have the feeder to himself?

What makes a bird behave like a bully? He clearly does not think that he will eat all of that himself because he leaves often and returns. This is not a guarding or possessive behavior like what we see from the canine family. Does he make funny sounds when he eats and is embarrassed? He is the messiest eater out there, tossing a lot away to get to particular seeds, so maybe he just doesn’t want to hit others with his flinging seeds. But then he pecks them instead, as if that would be nicer.

It seems this is about being a bully. One who hurts others who are weaker. He likes this moment of power. Maybe I can’t really blame him for that because he spends the rest of his time banging his beak on a tree. When it comes to human bullies, that is the behavior we do not see. How much they do not like themselves or the things that happened to them, so that being a bully is the most power they can find. If you think about it, power has nothing to do with getting their seeds at my feeder, or the food that they need. I am the one that puts out the type and quantity of bird food when I choose to do that. No power there at all my feathered bully.

A little word of caution there woodpecker. Don’t annoy the hummingbirds. I saw two hummingbirds taunt a bird that was chasing them by flying right in front of it’s face after it landed on a branch. These little guys do not even think they are anywhere in the food chain. Good thing they are not bullies because they move so fast you won’t even know what hit you.

Keep an eye on the sky and have a Happy Friday. Remember to subscribe on the Perspectives page.

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