A Pretty Pest
January 31, 2007 on 10:05 am | In Main, Pests, Scenic Photos |
Caught this fellow on film over the weekend hammering away at a dying pine tree in my backyard. Everyone in my house has been sick for days, so it took a tremendous burst of energy for me to stir from the couch just to see him — to say nothing of actually taking out the camera and working it from my porch.
My son tells me it’s a male downy woodpecker, but it looked a little large and lacking spots on his wings to be a downy. Perhaps it was the related hairy woodpecker, which also has the red spot on its head. At any rate, this was one of the trees that suffered extensive damage in the Dec. 1 storm. It had already been weakened by the carpenter ants that had begun to hollow it out.
If this bird gets his way, the tree will become his home. Then when I have to take it down, he’ll have to find a new abode — just like so many spotted owls in Oregon. Will that get me in trouble with the DEP?
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That’s a pileated woodpecker, Terry. He’s a beaut!
Comment by Vance Cannon — January 31, 2007 #
Woodpeckers are noisy, they don’t pay taxes, and they destroy trees that might, someday make paper.
But, they are pretty cool to watch..especialy on Terry’s property!
Marshall
Comment by Marshall Miles — January 31, 2007 #
you should give him a name and a backstory.
Comment by fred — February 1, 2007 #
Terry,
With the great Ivory Bill fervor in Arkansas & Florida, wouldn’t it be fine–alas, you have a magnificent (probably female) Pileated Woodpecker hacking at your tree, probably for carpenter ants. Better get your burning barrel fired up!
Wds
Comment by Woods Sinclair — February 1, 2007 #
Thank you, Woods and Vance, for the info.
It took two former English teachers (one retired and one now a librarian) to ID the mysterious bird and set the record straight for this former English teacher (now a writer).
Woods, do the females also have the bright red crest on their heads?
Comment by Terry — February 2, 2007 #
Terry, yes, but the female’s red crest is a bit less extensive.
Wds
Comment by Woods Sinclair — February 12, 2007 #