Ian, those are sapsuckers. They do not girdle the trees although it looks pretty close sometimes. They are drilling for sap, much like tapping a maple to make syrup, except the sapsuckers eat the insects that are attracted to the sap. Hummingbirds also I've heard are attracted to the sapsucker holes for the insects. It looks like it must be damaging, and it's definitely an open wound, but I've never seen a tree killed or seriously damaged by sapsuckers, and they're pretty birds. They go for the sweet-sapped trees mainly like birch and alder and aspen and maple. Are birds 'good' or 'bad' for trees?? aren't they pretty much made for each other?? Trees live in a world filled with birds, and birds live in a world filled with trees. Although trees as a whole predate birds by millions of years, trees and birds get along pretty well together, and they've lived together for much longer than we've been around. It's a myth that birdfeeders will spoil the birds so they won't eat insects. Most insect eating birds don't eat birdseed, for one thing. Conversely, birdfeeders don't attract most insect eating birds except for chickadees. Suet feeders, and birdbaths most of all, will attract more of the insect eaters. The weight of birds damaging trees? I wouldn't think so. Birds don't weigh hardly anything, their bones are hollow, and under those feathers there's hardly any bulk left, it's all fluff. And birds get off if a branch sways too much under their weight. Birds need trees, and trees need birds. I agree that the trees seem cheered by birds in them, even when the birds are eating all the flower buds so fruit won't set. That's what the finces do to my cherry trees, they gather by the dozens just as the flower buds are swelling, but who cares? finches are pretty and sing nice, and there's too many tiny little cherries on these trees anyway, they're a nuisance, might as well go to the birds as drop stones on the lawn for me to step on and the dogs to eat and plug up their guts. I read once that in Europe it's considered a good omen if a bird lights on a newly planted tree. Sounds like you have a yard full of good omens. Are you keeping a life list of the birds you see?

Roseunhip I think you are correct in your identification! I have been looking on the search engines for the Black-headed Grosbeak and from what I can tell and read.......it sounds just like it! Thanks a lot for your help. We first saw it Monday morning, for several hours it hung around the yard and feeders eating sunflower seeds and then I saw it again this evening. What a treat!!!

Way to go Rachel! I don't always post but ALWAYS read & enjoy your posts. I haven't had any takers at my Oriole feeder but have seen both the Baltimore & Orchard this season. Yesterday I saw my FOS Indigo bunting-they are such beauties! Another first was the sighting of the Blue-grey gnatcatcher nest. I was so excited but when I returned the very next day to show someone I couldn't find it-the leaves had come out just enough & plus it was very high up. Very few warblers for me yet this season but I'm still hopeful. Keep up the lovely photos & stories. I look forward to each & every one. Susan

here its different i have evening grosbeaks and blackheaded grosbeaks both nest close by here and they bring thir young to my feeders and at this time i have close to a dozen young grosbeaks comimg and going all day and i stand at the kitchen window watching them from just a few feet away. they do get more flighty as they get older though.