There is a war going on at Headquarters. It is over the old maple tree just north of the house, which is more dead then alive, full of cavities and bark-less limbs. It is prime nesting and bug snacking territory, and worth fighting for, if you are a woodpecker.

The red-bellied woodpecker had claimed it weeks ago. But today, the red-headed woodpecker returned. We don’t know how, but the red-headed clearly made a decisive move early on, taking the tree, and now the red-bellied is desperately trying to reclaim territory.

Here’s how it goes. Red-headed pecks on the contested tree. Red-bellied sneaks over to the tree. Red-headed notices right away, takes to the air and drives red-bellied back, giving chase until red-bellied is back at least a few trees away. Red-headed goes back to pecking at the contested tree. This has been going on all day.

Anyway, I appreciate living in a place that so many others also want to live (even if they’re birds). And I appreciate being outside for enough of my day that I get to notice the lives of those I share this place with.