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SPOTLIGHT
Acorn Woodpecker
The Official Bird of Orange County
The acorn woodpecker, named for its primary food source, also is known as the official bird of the OC. They can be found almost anywhere on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, including in Limestone, Round, Baker, Weir and Fremont canyons. This medium-sized bird looks for oaks or sycamores and loves the “canyon bottoms” and any groves; or pretty much any place you’ll find a tree or clump of trees. The adult acorn woodpecker sports a black head, back, wings and tail with a white forehead, throat, belly and rump. Adult males have a red cap starting at the forehead, whereas females have a black area between the forehead and the cap. They have a large white patch on their wings that shows in flight and is one of their distinctive identifiers. In addition, these birds of a feather tend to flock together, living in extended family groups and displaying territorial behavior. These energetic birds store thousands of acorns in carefully constructed holes within trees, usually focusing on a single tree, which is called a granary tree. If the acorns are mysteriously snatched from this granary tree, the woodpecker will move to another area for the winter. At times they even drill holes in fence posts, utility poles, buildings, and even automobile radiators. Acorn woodpeckers are not migratory; families stay near their granary tree, but will usually move upslope in the fall. Young woodpeckers stay with their parents for several years. During breeding season, the females of a particular social group put all of their eggs into a single nest cavity. Before each female begins to lay her eggs, she destroys any eggs that are already present in the nest. This is why more than one third of all eggs laid in joint nests are destroyed. Acorn woodpeckers tend to prefer older trees that produce more acorns and more dead wood, which they use for storing acorns or as a nest cavity. Their population is scattered around California, Arizona, the western half of Oregon, New Mexico and throughout Mexico. Their diet consists of insects, sap, seeds, oak catkins, poison oak berries, fruits and, of course, acorns. So the next time you’re on a hike, mountain bike ride, or equestrian outing, be sure to bring your binoculars and look for these fascinating birds. Visit the website and check out the various birding programs that are offered periodically on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks at http://www.irvineranchwildlands.org/activities/index.asp.
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