Red-headed Woodpeckers are somewhat common in Brown County. Most of the area is rural. I found a nest in Ohio BBS block 75D7NE. The nest is actually in an isolated subdivision that was being built and put on hold during this economic situation in our country. The tree that contains the nest has many dead limbs in the top and the nest cavity is in one of these limbs. The nest is in a lone tree next to the road on a large vacant lot. The big problem for this pair and all Red-headed woodpeckers is the European Starlings who like to take over the nesting cavities. Every time I check this nest there are at least three starlings sitting outside and the male woodpecker uses energy trying to chase them away. The woodpeckers have been successful at driving the starlings away for three weeks now. In Clermont county I have found nesting evidence for the last two years in some dead trees on the East Fork of the Little Miami river where it feeds Harsha Lake in East Fork State Park. I saw birds and young last year and I've seen a lot of activity this year. I view the trees from a good distance so I haven't actually seen the nest cavities. So to answer your question, I think that in Clermont and Brown Counties they are hanging on. I really don't thing they are doing any better here. What I find is they tend to move nesting locations from year to year. My thought is they have to move to stay ahead of the starlings. Bill Stanley Willimsburg OH. -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Greg Spahr Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 8:40 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Red Headed Woodpeckers In the last week, I have seen two different Red Headed Woodpeckers (one in Seneca County near Fostoria, and the other in Greene County in downtown Wilberforce). Usually, I can go for years without seeing one, and I happened to just stumble upon these two. So I thought I would ask the group how your perceptions of this species are this year. Are you seeing more of them, or did I just get lucky and see a couple even though they are still declining in Ohio? Good birding, Greg Spahr Fairborn, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.46/2144 - Release Date: 05/30/09 17:53:00 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]