Pileated Woodpeckers

CarlP said:

I don’t ever remember seeing two of them at the same time. View attachment 34198

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That's interesting, Carl. I deer hunt at Bernheim Arboretum (private management hunt) and see pileateds all the time down there. When they come flying into my area, they are almost always in twos and threes, so much so that I've wondered if they mate for life. Not sure. Also, I call them The Wrecking Crew of the Forest because in that area they typically find dead limbs/bark and slam into it full speed. Wood flies everywhere, then they hook on and look for grubs and bugs.

We see them spring and fall which make me wonder if they migrate or just come out of the deep woods then.
Where is Grey Fox when we need him?

I also have noticed them in my area. Started seeing them a few years ago, now on a fairly regular basis. They fly over you in a deer stand it’s like a small planes shadow.

Here Francis!
We see quite a few PWP over the course of the year. We occasionally get one or two on the New Year's Bird Count that we take about 10 miles away where I grew up, but we also have them here on our place in Goodlettsville. They are not uncommon at all and if we don't always see them, we do hear them. Whether the #s have increased I couldn't say, but should you see an Ivory Billed WP, please be sure to call me. Last possible sighting was in AR a few years back. Last Known sighting was in LA in to late 30's as I recall. Resembles the PWP, but much larger. Sometimes known as the "Lord God Bird" as that's what folks said when they saw and heard it. Used at the model for Woody Wood Pecker.

BTW, rainy and cool in the hollow this AM. I have chores, but they are all outdoors, so I'm futzing with paper work and trying to find $$ I can collect.

G'day Y'all,
Rick
FJB and his horse too!!!

Woodpeckers are the A 10 Warthogs of the aviation world. With their hard feathers, there is no stealthy and quiet to them. I love them.
Come to think of it, I also love to see the owls as you can see them in flight but you can’t hear them.

We are blessed with them around here and the little speckled red heads as well....its all good till the start pecking on the deck !

I watched a Learning Channel type show that covered owls and hawks.
The owls' night hunting required the stealth approach, therefore very soft feathers. But not good for speed. Hawks' n eagles' feathers are harder, resulting in more speed.
Some great photography.

Hell JR,
Eagles got to eat too.
Rick

We have pileated woodpeckers here and one or two come and eat suet at times.

JRinKY said:

I'm agoing to put this photo on here every time someone mentions Birds.
View attachment 34204

These things are mean SOBs. I think that's Skruskes little dog...or maybe @Greyfox dog.
And I love those Woodpeckers. I see them regularly but they are hard to take their photo.

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BKSOB

I just recalled that somewhere I have a clip of a BE picking up a prarie dog in SD. We had watched, apparently, the same bird do this three afternoons in a row. We speculated that his wife called him and told him to pick up dinner on the way home. Anyway the dog was always standing on a mound with his back to the eagle. A low swoop and it was over. Cliff Schrader got the film clip on the last day as I recall. Maybe ii'll run across it.

Rick