Springtime in Alaska . . . Snowing again today with Woody Woodpecker

Here we are going into the last week of March and many of us in the Anchorage, Alaska area are finding that it has once again been lightly snowing for the last couple days with forecast for temperatures to warm up a bit by Monday with wet snow falling and melting on the way.  I am sure everyone is ready for “break up”, the yearly ritual of melting snow, muddy water splashed on vehicles leaving them filthy.  Everyone waits until the snow melts and things dry up a bit before finally cleaning up all the cars and rigs on the highways making Alaskan vehicles in springtime probably the dirtiest in the country.

With the snowfall yesterday and today it seems like most people enjoy watching it fall out the windows, I know I do.  I kept hearing something like someone knocking on my door only to look and find no one there.  I looked out my back deck door and saw what was making the knocking sounds.  It seems that spring has sprung and the birds are returning to Alaska from their time down south.  

It's that time of year in Alaska when woodpeckers are out pecking on telephone poles.  I always wondered why they do it since there can't be any bugs to dig out, certainly none that don't taste foul from years of soaking in creosote.

Turns out the birds’ use the poles for the same thing humans do . . . communication.

Woodpeckers don't use the wires like humans, just the poles.  The dried wood makes a satisfying sound that can be heard by other birds for blocks around.

Most of the telephone-pole communicators are males advertising for mates. In that regard they are remarkably like humans.

I learned Morse code many years ago at the Army's Rotary Wing Flight Training School in Alabama at Fort Rucker and realized recently that woodpecker code is quite similar to the old Morse classic . . . and the birds use their own version of text messaging.

This one in my neighborhood seemed to be sending out a signal saying: "Macho male w/big bill and great plumage seeks female w/strong nesting instinct, for serious mating.  Available immediately."

I've also learned that woodpeckers in most neighborhoods send their signal several times and sign off with a jaunty, "Shave & a haircut, two bits."  Most of you in the younger generation probably won’t remember that one.  Those bird brains near retail stores probably often pick up the local jargon and substitute, "Thank u have a nice day."

Banging your head against solid wood to meet females reminds me of my younger days, but that's another story.  Internet dating may need to change things up a bit to keep all the possibilities open and not have guys or gals showing up on first dates with bruises on their head from all the wall banging.

Alaskan’s welcome springtime . . . we welcome the warmth . . . the light . . . and the coming summer.  Let it melt as quickly as possible so we can finally have clean vehicles before the tourists show up!

Ice