Did You Say Dead Cedar Tree?
by Kym Backland
Title
Did You Say Dead Cedar Tree?
Artist
Kym Backland
Medium
Photograph
Description
I caught this image of "Woody Woodpecker" a Pileated Woodpecker in the woods near our house in the middle of the night. I was so surprised I got the catch light in his eye without getting the monster green eye.. These are the biggest of the Woodpecker Family. Related to the "Ivory Billed Woodpecker". They are quite the site to see and behold. I never realized that the "Woody Woodpecker" Cartoon, at the beginning when "Woody" does his call.. it is hard to write the call, 18 vocalizations, I guess you would call it, anyway it is the same sound that the REAL Woodpecker does when he is drumming or mating.. This made me laugh when I first reconized this years ago when I first started "birding". We are lucky to have these "gorgeous creatures" in our yard. I know many "birders" who have never seen one in real life! I see them born year after year, and am always so excited to see them and watch their orange heads turn red! What a gorgeous looking bird!
Slightly smaller than the American Crow, this woodpecker is mainly brown-black and white. In flight, the upper wings are black with small white areas at the base of the base of the primary flight feathers. Perched birds appear mostly black above, with white on the side of the neck. The white line on each side of the neck drops below each wing to merge with the white wing lining. Each white line begins in front of the eye at the base of the bill, passes beneath the eye, notches up high over the cheek and ear region of the head, and extends down to the neck. The chin and upper throat are white and the head bears a large, rear-facing crest. Males have a red forehead, crown, and crest, while females have a gray to yellow-brown forehead. The dark bill is around two inches in length. Males have a white line above and behind each eye, merging with the red crest; in females, this white line is thinner. Females have a black moustache (malar) extending from the lower mandible to the dark breast; males are similar, but with red feathers in the moustache under the eye. The leading edge of the underwing is white; white wing coverts form a broad oval patch bordered by a broad black trailing edge and wing tip. Flies in a labored, undulating way.
Voice: Most often heard is a "cuk, cuk, cuk . . ." sound, not unlike the quieter calls of Northern Flicker, accelerating and becoming higher in pitch. Drumming is slow and deliberate.
Ecology
Habitat
This species requires late successional stages of forest for habitat, as well as younger forests that have scattered, large, dead trees for food, nesting, and roosting. In younger forests they requires larger areas: 3,904 acres of virgin forest supports 3-6 pairs of Pileated Woodpeckers, while the same area of secondary forest will support just one pair. They also require larger trees with dead centers for roosting, where the bird excavates only the entrance hole.
Feeding
Most studies of diet describe it as being constituting more than half by animal matter, mainly Carpenter Ants. In addition, Thatching Ants, beetles, other insects, and vegetable matter make up around one quarter of the total. In one study, Pileated Woodpeckers spent 58% of their foraging time on dead wood and 36% on live wood. In another study, the birds fed on dead wood 96% of the time, 44% on snags, and 36% in dead logs.
Nesting
Both sexes excavate a cavity in tree 15 to 125 feet above the ground. The oval entrance is taller than wide, about 4-6 inches in diameter. The cavities measure between 10 and 24 inches deep, and the birds construct a new one each year. The clutch ranges in size from 1 to 6 eggs, with an average of 3.8 eggs per clutch. Parents share in raising young, and the young leave the nest about four weeks after hatching.
Migration
No evidence of migration, though some southern movement of northwest birds apparent in the fall.
Conservation Status
The removal of dead and living trees with large diameters has the largest effect on eliminating nesting, roosting and feeding sites. Forest fragmentation reduces population density and exposes birds to predation as they fly between patches. This species has also been the victim of extensive shooting and is currently protected. The USGS Breeding Bird Survey shows an average annual increase of 1.9% across North America between 1966 and 2003. Management should be focused on extending forest harvest rotations to maintain foraging and nesting habitat, and retain dead and dying trees in a range of habitats.
What you can do
If you manage forested systems within the range of the Pileated Woodpecker, seek guidance on managing your land to retain large blocks of 600-900 acres, retaining a canopy cover of more than 60% in at least half the area and leave three or more snags per acre, following research by The Nature Conservancy.
Uploaded
November 8th, 2012
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Viewed 366 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/21/2024 at 3:25 PM
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Comments (39)
Karen Adams
I have only seen one Pileated around here, and we have a lot of trees! I was shocked at how big it was! ( my maiden name was Wood...so I heard a lot of Woody Woodpecker jokes growing up!) . . . . This is just a fantastic capture! . . .fav/v31
Kym Backland replied:
Karen, You comments made me smile and laugh today. I have been under the weather with some flu and cold, so I am sooooo behind in my thank you's and replies.. This is a really bad virus.. anyways, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! weeeeeeeee
Kym Backland
CHARLIE, It's a quadruple feature today! Thank you for the feature of my photo DID YOU SAY DEAD CEDAR TREE? In your group NATURE AND LANDSCAPE... so many features! I appreciate it Charlie!
Kym Backland
SARA, Thank you for the feature of my photo DID YOU SAY DEAD CEDAR TREE? In your group FEATURED ART AND PHOTOGRAPHERS.. today!
Belinda Greb
This is a great capture! When I've tried to get a shot, they've always been too high in the tree, or I get their backs! Fantastic. v.
Kym Backland replied:
Belinda, Thanks for your visit today! Yes, they are hard to get a shot of, but because I live in the woods with rotten trees, I get a better than average "crack" at getting their photo! Keep trying! Thanks for your vote today!
Marcia Colelli
Nice capture. I have always wanted tp get a shot of this type of Woodpecker. f/v
Kym Backland replied:
Marcia, I know what you mean! Before I lived here, I thought this was the most elusive bird to see.. well, I mean in the United States.. Thanks for the votes and favorite Marcia!
Christy Usilton
Awesome close-up!!! I've been flowing a pair around the woods near my house - I just haven't been able to get a clear capture ... yet! :) vf and contest vote
Kym Backland replied:
Christy, I wish you luck on finding the Pileated Woodies! They are so funny when they try to hide, and they go around and around a tree! Thanks for your vote last week.. Again I missed a bunch of comments that came in last week! Happy Friday to ya!
Al Powell Photography USA
You are most welcome, Kym.
Kym Backland replied:
Al Powell, That rhymes! I missed this last week.. thanks again Al! I love your new group!
Kym Backland
AL, Oh I see you gave me a feature too! Thanks for the feature of my photo DID YOU SAY DEAD CEDAR TREE? in your group WOODPECKER PHOTOGRAPHY... I really appeciate the feature, and the group! I love all the photos of Woodpeckers... they are hysterical!
Al Powell Photography USA
Nice close up photograph of a Pileated Woodpecker Female, Kym. Here is another Vote for you.
Kym Backland replied:
Al, Thanks so much for coming over and looking, and commenting and voting! I appreciate it! Thanks again for the Woody Group!
Larry Nieland
Great close-up ! - unusual opportunity ! ........+V
Kym Backland replied:
Larry, Hello new face! Wow, you look like you have some awesome camera equipment! Thanks for coming by and giving me your vote!
Kym Backland
NADINE AND BOB, Thank you for the lastest feature today of my photo DID YOU SAY DEAD CEDAR TREE in your group USA ARTISTS NEWS LIMIT 1 DAILY,
Zsuzsa Balla
Gorgeous creature of God this bird is, and yr image fantastic Kym! Yr work is good not only for children - I think - but for anybody who like a beautiful bird on a great image.
Kym Backland replied:
Zsuzsa, Thanks for your kind words, and attention to me...as it relates to you, and your group! I appreciate you taking the time to tell me your thoughts!
Kym Backland
ZSUZSA, Thank you so much for the feature of my photo DID YOU SAY DEAD CEDAR TREE in your group THE CHILDREN SECTOR, I'm honored that you think this is a good image for kids!
Zsuzsa Balla
Featured on our group page Children Sector. Thank you so much Kym for yr taking time.
Kym Backland replied:
Zsuzsa, I just saw this reply, after I made my reply! We said the same thing! "sort of".. Anyways thank you so much for the feature! I don't have children, so I always wonder or think about what would be interesting to them. I'm glad you think this picture would be. His face makes me laugh, so I thought it would make kids laugh too! Thank your for the feature!
Kym Backland
WAYNE, Thank you for the double feature today of my photo DID YOU SAY DEAD CEDAR TREE in your group BIRDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD..
Kym Backland
Audreen, Thank so much for featuring my photo DID YOU SAY CEDAR TREE in your new groupBIRDS IN THE WILD... I always want to say ...Birds GONE wild.. haha.. Thanks again!
Debbie Portwood
Great capture!! Beautiful feather details! I love all those surprises we get by pure accident sometimes! v.f ! (Thank you so much for you kind comments and support! :D
Kym Backland replied:
Debbie, Thank you so much for your kind words and appreciating the details of Woody Woodpecker... Thanks for the votes too!
Kathy Bassett
I love your hahahahas! Kym....... great shot and title! v
Kym Backland replied:
Kathy!! Thanks for getting my "corny" since of humor and my laughing on LINE...I appreciate that more than your votes...haha.. there it is... the haha..Happy New Year's Eve to you Kathy! See you in 2013!
Chris Berry
Cool shot AND at night. f/v
Kym Backland replied:
Chris, A new face! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, and your vote and favor!