FLORA + FAUNA OF THE NORTHWEST COAST

LUNA LOISEAU-TREMBLAY

THE

RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER

Birding is a popular pastime in the Vancouver

Island area but certainly during the pandemic, with most of us home more than usual, many more people are putting up bird feeders and observing the avian visitors to their yard. One of my own favourite species to watch is the Red-Breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber), a medium sized bird in the woodpecker family. This species is very noticeable, with its striking plumage combination of a red breast and head, white lower belly and rump and a black back, white wing bars and a large white wing patch. They are permanent residents of our coastal areas, as opposed to being migratory for the winter. This is a common species seen year round in many people's yards, in our damp Pacific coast mixed deciduous/ coniferous forests and regularly seen hammering on trees that are in public spaces, such as parks and business fronts. However, identification can be complicated in certain areas of the province, as this species is known to hybridize with other species of sapsuckers in BC, such as the Yellow-Bellied and Red-Naped Sapsuckers. The Red-Breasted Sapsucker drills holes in tree bark, usually in rows that are regularly spaced and then returns to them to feed on the sap that wells up in the holes. Its tongue has stiff hairs on it to allow for more efficient sap collection. They also feed on small bits of tree tissue, such as the cambium, as well as insects that are attracted to the sap wells. In addition to this, they also catch insects in the air or any that are near the base of the tree trunk such as ants, and are also known to eat fruits from apple trees and berries. Interestingly, several species of hummingbirds, but most notably the Rufous Hummingbird, are closely associated with this species of sapsucker. Rufous Hummingbirds may nest close to a sap well, feeding on the sap and insects and are known to follow Red-breasted sapsuckers on their daily rounds of sap wells. This species of sapsucker is a dead tree cavity nester and may have a clutch of 5-7 eggs, with both sexes incubating the eggs from 11-15 days. They have one clutch per year with both parents feeding the young, bringing them fruit, sap or insects for about 3-4 weeks after hatching. Once the chicks leave the nest, the parents will show them how to forage for food for another 10 days and then the juveniles are on their own. Red-breasted sapsuckers can use the same tree for nest purposes but do not use the same nest cavity. Unfortunately, this species has historically been thought of as an orchard pest and are regularly targeted and killed by gardeners for their woodpecking and fruit foraging characteristics. However, as is apparent of the animals and plant species that are native to any area, every species has its place in the delicate balance of nature.

From the beginning, the most troubling thing about COVID-19 was how much we didn’t know. To me it felt like the worst kind of fire season, when we can smell the smoke but we can’t tell where the fires are. Rumours and misinformation swirl. Anxiety runs high. So, I started a Facebook group called Powell River COVID-19 Awareness. My idea was to exchange credible information from residents and authorities, cutting through the smoke to help each other learn. With a background in data analysis and writing, I felt like I had something useful to offer our community. Every day we’re exposed to a huge amount of information. All too often, there is little separating fact from fiction. This group forced me to read carefully and consciously. It has to be credible, it has to be relevant, it has to be grounded in reality. Early on, our provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reminded us that “all tragedy is a failure of communication.” I took that to heart, along with her challenge to us all: Be kind, be calm, and be safe. Sometimes Facebook is like a video game everyone loves to hate. But social media can also bring us together, at a time when social distance holds us apart. To me, the real heroes are the medical workers, the front line staff, the parents holding their homes together, the officials making hard choices every day. We’ve all given something in this fight. If I can help bring these voices together, I feel that I have done my part.

Adapted from an article published in Powell River Weekly, July 2020

Joseph McLean lives in Powell River, spending his days with two young kids, a laid-back cat, and a fantastic wife named Katie. He has repaired a lot of computers; seen a number of mountain tops.