Sunrise. The lone Flicker singing at the top of his lungs - no response to his call. I cannot help but chuckle though it is dawn. Every morning I am awakened by this fellow. He starts at sun-up and keeps up his noisy vigil till sundown. This poor guy cannot find a mate and clearly he's desperate. I want to tell him to change location, for surely he would get an answer if he would just fly east to the Arboretum or a bit west towards the Charles. Here on my street there are lots of Robins, Jays, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Cardinals and the like - but there aren't many woodpeckers - or Flickers. His mating call is persistent and after 4 or 5 hours makes me feel a bit of a loon myself. I don't shut the windows though. I have waited too long for warm weather, the fresh scent of spring and birdsong. I have my doubts about this fellow mating this year but clearly it won't be for lack of his efforts.