Kitchen Garden Forum

A greater spotted woodpecker has been building a nest in an old apple tree. There's a perfectly round hole, and a few days ago I even saw it stick its head out and spit wood shavings out onto the grass below! However, yesterday I saw a starling squeeze itself out of the hole. And although I've been getting a sight of the woodpecker several times a day, I didn't see it yesterday. I assume the starling has taken the nest over. Does anyone know anything about that sort of thing?
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Granny

Hi Granny. Rest assured, if the Woody had eggs or nestlings in there, the nest would have been defended. Woodies lay eggs May to July, so they were probably just preparing the nest site and the starling usurper hasn't disturbed any little ones. Annoying though, to say the least. You never know, the Woody may re-acquire if the starling decides the entrance is too small! Does it look like the starling has taken up residence? Have you seen them going in and out any more? Cheers.

Hi Granny,
From what I know of Greater Spotted Woodpecker's they will soon shift the Starlings out if they want to. Apart from the fact that the woodpeckers are great robbers of nests and have dug enormous holes in nest boxes put up on a nesting scheme and eaten eggs and any young in the nest. GSW's although very attractive they are real villains.
JB.

I think it's been abandoned by one and all. No sign of any activity - but I'll keep watching. I hadn't realised they were nest robbers. I must say I'd been really excited about it all as I've never seen a greater spotted in the garden before. Ah well....
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Granny