Blue Jays vs Red-bellied Woodpecker

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Saturday, January 11

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It was interesting to watch a Red-bellied Woodpecker eating suet in our old (cracked and leaking) birdbath. It has become a suet feeder for the birds for the winter.

The large birds seem to like this new feeder.

He looked pretty against the newly fallen snow.

Then I noticed a few bluejays waiting their turn. It is rare that a bluejay waits on another bird as they are very bossy and impatient.

There were another two in the tree – waiting impatiently.

One bluejay finally got bold and approached the woodpecker.

I smiled when the woodpecker chased it away, seeming to say, “I am not finished yet.”

Finally, the bluejays got their turn. Even then, they eat one at a time, rarely sharing a feeder.