The Red-headed Woodpecker Doesn’t Make Sense

Interesting post about the Red-Headed Woodpecker which has adapted well to life on the prairies were there are large areas with few trees. Being more omnivorous than other Woodpeckers enables it to sustain itself in a wife variety of environments. It is strange that the population has declined dramatically over the past 150 years.
While elimination of primary food sources such as locusts and beach nuts in its primary ranges certainly impacted the birds. I would not be surprised to find the starling population increase to be a significant factor since they occupy other birds nests.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker CPT Scott Sharon SSG William Jones SGT John " Mac " McConnell Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer CWO3 Dennis M. PO3 Bob McCord SGT (Join to see)

Good read - thanks Jack.

Fascinating. So this is one bird that can take advantage of dead trees and fires to increase its population