My Downy Woodpecker

We usually don't fill the suet feeders in the summer. I always thought that the suet would get rancid and harm the little birds. Now they have suet to use year round. I still didn't keep them filled until one day a few weeks ago when a little woodpecker was sitting on the rail of the deck...to me, looking sad. He really didn't like the seed in the swinging feeder and there were so many boisterous birds, shoving him out of their way to the seed. So, I decided to get the feeders out and buy some suet. I bought suet of every variety for this little bird. Now, I know that more that one woodpecker comes to my feeders, but I like to think of just one little fellow enjoying his suet at my feeder. I know that he is a downy, because of the size of the bill. The hairy has a longer bill and is a little larger. This little bird can make a very loud sound. The feeder on the deck was empty (ravenous little bird) and he just sat on top of the shepard's hook and scolded me, while I was sitting at the table. It was as if he could say, "Balisha are you enjoying your food...mine is all gone?" He sat there scolding for the longest time, until I left the table and filled the feeder. He flew over to the tree we call Blue, and watched me fill it. Before I could sit down...he was back to eat his breakfast. Does he have me wrapped around his little toe... or what? Day before yesterday I found a little woodpecker lying on the floor of the deck. He was dead. He hadn't been dead long...his body was perfect. I picked him up gently and put him in the garden. I don't know what killed him...did he fly against the patio door or was it just his time to go? It didn't take long for another little woodpecker to come to the feeder. I will never know if the one that died was the one who scolded me.

Balisha