Sap Wells

A close inspection of trees along the bluff, like the apple tree pictured here, will reveal horizontal lines of small holes. What are they, and how did they get there? Woodpeckers! Woodpeckers are quite varied in how they get their food. Our most common woodpecker on the bluff, the Northern Flicker, is mostly a ground feeder, eating ants while nesting in medium-sized tree cavities. Our smallest woodpecker, the Downy Woodpecker, hunts for bugs in the bark of trees. You can often hear it squeaking on the bluff. It regularly nests in holes not much bigger than a half-dollar. Native to Oregon, but not yet seen on the bluff, the Lewis’s Woodpecker catches insects while flying.

The holes in this tree are the work of our native Red-Breasted Sapsucker. While it has a red breast, its striking red head usually makes it stand out. Sapsuckers drill these wells in trees and wait for the sap to come out, which they drink! Sapsuckers return to these wells year after year for their meals. Not only are they popular with sapsuckers, but other birds, including hummingbirds, will also visit the wells if there is sap to drink. Bugs get stuck in the sap, which makes for what must be a delicious treat. Sapsuckers can be found somewhat regularly along the bluff, and seem to become quite conspicuous during snow storms, maybe because they can still get sap, or maybe because of their brilliant red head. Keep a lookout for their wells and the birds this fall to spring! (Thanks to Trask for this post!)