Evidence Of Sapsucker Activity

Day 123: "Rap-rap-rap!" Our local Red-Breasted Sapsuckers have a reputation for making holes in trees, a practice which frequently causes branches or even trunks to break. Their name is derived from the fact that the bird drills in order to drink the sugary sap which seeps from the wounds it has inflicted on the tree, but although they do lap up this sweet treat, they use the ooze to attract the insects which are the major source of protein in their diet. The Sapsucker will create a line of neatly spaced wells and retire from its work, returning some time later to feast on the bugs which have been drawn to the exudate. The jury is still out on whether Sapsuckers prefer trees which are already infested with insects and therefore failing, or whether they contribute to the demise of healthy trees.