Clueless. That's me.
I didn't know what the fuss was all about -- the Pileated Woodpecker.
Then this past weekend I was out at the Mandeville Nature Center. I was actually heading back in to my car when I caught a glimpse of a bird coming in across the lake like a one of those jumbo fireworks rockets. Except I could make out it was a bird and had a black and white and red look to it.
He kept his kamikaze speed up as he approached thewoods -- he obviously knew where he was going and had done this many times before. He took and s-curve route through the trees and pull out of his dive with one of the multi-G climbs at the end, right up to the middle of a huge dead, limbless tree. I had just made it back to the trail, about 60 feet from the tree, when he started scouting out food. He was as large as a crow. He quickly scaled the tree and then scamper to another.
This was his territory marking tree (I learned later) -- he started hitting it and making quite a racket on this tree-drum -- his way of saying "this is my yard -- stay away."
His beautiful red head is the most attractive thing about him.
I think he and I will meet up again. Hopefully he'll hang around a little longer.
--steve buser
I didn't know what the fuss was all about -- the Pileated Woodpecker.
Then this past weekend I was out at the Mandeville Nature Center. I was actually heading back in to my car when I caught a glimpse of a bird coming in across the lake like a one of those jumbo fireworks rockets. Except I could make out it was a bird and had a black and white and red look to it.
He kept his kamikaze speed up as he approached thewoods -- he obviously knew where he was going and had done this many times before. He took and s-curve route through the trees and pull out of his dive with one of the multi-G climbs at the end, right up to the middle of a huge dead, limbless tree. I had just made it back to the trail, about 60 feet from the tree, when he started scouting out food. He was as large as a crow. He quickly scaled the tree and then scamper to another.
This was his territory marking tree (I learned later) -- he started hitting it and making quite a racket on this tree-drum -- his way of saying "this is my yard -- stay away."
His beautiful red head is the most attractive thing about him.
I think he and I will meet up again. Hopefully he'll hang around a little longer.
--steve buser
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5 comments:
Congratulations! Pileated w.'s are wonderful birds. There used to be one near my house; it was always a treat to spot him. I never got a picture like yours, though.
Love his hairdo.
Good photo "catch" on such a fast mover!
Wow! I have never seen one of these! I have been missing my blogging the past few months, and your birds in particular! I hope you get to see him again soon!
Fabulous picture.. and fabulous experience for you!!
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