About a week ago I moved to a new apartment. (Even though I’ve been living in the same town for half a year now, this is the 3rd time I’ve moved within the town–not by choice but seems I can’t escape the nomadic life, sigh)
From the front of the apartment there’s an awesome view of the local mountain. From the back, rice fields and a big ancient tree (possibly chestnut judging from the bark but in its leafless winter state it’s hard to tell) which all kinds of birds seem to love visiting.
I’ve observed two very cool ecological interactions in the past week. The first, a couple turtle doves crooning then making a flap for it as a pair of sparrowhawks came zooming over. (too fast for photos, unfortunately)
Second, a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers which, according to the red spot on the back of their head, are both males. Yet, they constantly hung around together which first made me think they were a male and female mating pair.
Until I noticed the colouring… it’s been observed in lions before, but could this be another example of same sex pairs in wildlife?! Who knows, but Mother Nature never ceases to fascinate me.
Eli Sooker 