woody woodpecker

[RC Moser]

had susprise visit to my front yard today. woody woodpecker gave me visit. this Pretty male Pileated woodpecker Picture don't do him justice, he really shined in the sun.

I know where they roost, but they are rarely seen in my immediate area

[~Ray~Gingerich]

RC, It's neat that you were able to get some photos!
Last spring there was one hanging around behind my place but could never get a picture. One day he was out in the open along the tree line, I went back to get my camera but by that time he had moved back and could only get a short glimpse of him now and then.

[RC Moser]

Yes. Ray I was very lucky to get the photo. Had to take it from my front window, not that clear going through the glass at angle.. These are on the rise in my area due to the wild fires few years ago. Killed alot of big trees (along with burning about 150 homes east of OKC) and now they are rotted enough for the Pileated and Red headed woodpeckers to nest without being disturbed. Rarely seen them in town (populated area till recently). You had to go out of town to heavy wooded area and still they were rare this far west in OK.

[Mike1624]

Great shots. They are really fun birds to watch and listen to. We see huge population spikes of all our woodpecker species after hurricanes that cause a lot of tree damage. Several years ago, we were privileged to be able to watch a pair bring their 2 young to our yard and teach them how to hammer a tree, starting them on a large root at the base of an oak and over three days, they worked their way up the tree until the young ones were actually catching something worth eating.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

We have some of them here, they are hugh. We had one that saw himself in a neighbors window, and he pecked that window every day for about 2 weeks, he would peck for about 15 min, but it finally stopped. The neighbors were working so it didn't bother them much

[jeffwilliams72]

I love how the top-notch of a baby Pileated looks just like the hair on those little troll dolls.

[Connie]

My favorite bird next to my PM's of course. They are plentiful here. I have taken lots and lots of pictures. The are soooo big! We have lots of Red Headed Woodpeckers too. So fun to listen to.

[Don]

I have at least one pair that visit the suet everyday but I suspect that there are more than one pair because of the frequency of the visits. The feeder is on the deck about six feet from the living room window.I took the pictures in December 2010 (northern MN). They have gotten used to movement inside the house.

[Connie]

Wow Don,
I would be thrilled to get one at my feeders. I wish I could use the suet to attract them but mine always melts. Too hot down here even in the winter. It can be 38 degrees one day and I will run out and purchase some then the next day it is 75 and its melting or molding. Those are great pictures!! I am so jealous.

[Louise Chambers]

Wonderful photos, Don - thanks. I miss them!

[Donnie Hurdt MN]

Last spring an elm tree in our yard died from Dutch Elm disease. I left it standing so it could dry out on its own figuring that this winter when I got time I would cut it down. Somehow the Pileated Woodpeckers and other woodpeckers around here knew that under the bark the tree was full of grubs they have most of the bark stripped off the tree from top to bottom. What a mess they have made under that tree in my yard! I am sure that there wont be any volenteers coming around to help me clean up!
There are several other dead elms around my yard but they havent touched them.

[Jeff Robinson]

So neat to see them RC. Although I reported them as birds of my backyard, I've only had the privilege of "seeing" them visit twice since I moved here in 2004.