On the Wing #55: Cabins for Carpenters
Last week I spent some time in the Mass Audubon gift shop located at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln and I happened upon something that took me by surprise. Nestled among the bluebird and chickadee nest boxes was something that I had never thought could have existed. I looked along the shelves to find a Downy Woodpecker ( Picoides pubescens ) nest box. This isn't something you see everyday. Additionally, yesterday, I spent part of Valentine's Day with my girlfriend. We browsed the shelves and merchandise of Russel's Garden Center in Wayland. I saw another example of woodpecker home decor sitting near the plastic recycled bird houses that all "true" environmentalists would buy (either because they lack the requisite carpentry experience or because they feel like they're making a difference). Pardon the crabby response, I just find it annoying that instead of leaving a dead or dying tree standing, people think that buying a recycled nest box ought...