Pileated Woodpecker

The Pileated Woodpecker is a crow sized bird native to North America.  This woodpecker is found in the US's Great Lakes area, eastern area, some areas of the Pacific coast, and some forested areas of Canada.

Female Pileated Woodpecker hunting for bugs.

Pileated Woodpeckers live in deciduous forests, preferably containing large standing dead tress.  The dead wood is a source of food as well as nesting sites.

Pileated Woodpeckers eat insects, favorites include carpenter ants and wood boring beetle larve.  They also eat nuts, berries, (even poison ivy berries!).

A male Pileated Woodpecker in flight.

PW's nest in dead tree cavities.  Using their beaks, they chip out a large nest area with multiple entrance holes.  The nest is lined only with the wood chips from construction.  They do not reuse the nest.  (However, other birds and mammals do.)

Youngsters peeking out of the nest.

A pair of PW has 1 brood per year.  Both parents incubate the 3-5 eggs.  12-16 days later they hatch and nestle 24-31 days before going out on their own.

The male (on the left) has a larger red crest than the female and a red stripe on the lower cheek.

A pair stays together and in the same area all year .  They drum their beaks against a tree to proclaim their territory.

Meanwhile at the Homestead...

Will this be the next critter added to the gang at Bad Dog Ranch?

First I must research the fencing requirements of snowmen...

Garden on Hiatus

There is something sad yet hopeful about the garden this time of year.

Snow, a clump of cat mint, the support for the boysenberry and fox footprints don't tell the whole story.

Underneath lies promise of things to come.

Seeds to sow in little containers in the house....

Before long the garden will take off again.