Starlings, grackles and red-winged blackbirds have vacated these summer breeding grounds and are now further south. Among our remaining birds is a colourful woodpecker, the Northern Flicker. Over the past few weeks, a female of the yellow-shafted variety has been providing me with a complimentary lawn service of pest control and soil aeration.
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| Bill deep in my patchy lawn, she probes for edibles. |
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| You can see why this flicker is the yellow-shafted version. |
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| She pulls out an item that might be a spider. |
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| A quick check for danger before resuming her treasure hunt. |
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| Jackpot! A plump and juicy grub. Sweet! |
