Every day this boid visits and pecks at all of the stumps in the yard
He is not afraid of me, even when I get up close with the camera!
Hubby calls him his free "stump grinder"!
Just one of the many holes he has made:
From: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/lifehistory
The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens.
We have one around here. He attacks the metal gutters in the early morning. Sounds like a machine gun.
ReplyDeleteThey sure can make a lot of noise! It's raining here now and I can here him in one of the trees.
DeleteWe have one in the woods near us as well.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be more of 'em every year, Mamahen.
DeleteOne of the cool things about Pileated woodpeckers, is, they are not very wary of people. I've walked right up to several, and they seem to not care. Right now we have a mama Hairy woodpecker teaching her young son how to feed himself at the suet feeder. I've taken photos two feet away out the front window.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Sarthurk! I can walk close enough to almost touch them. Must be fun to watch the mama with her young one! Thanks for stopping by! :o)
Delete