I have kept my camera right by the back window to see who could catch a picture of this big boy! Look at what he is doing to our deck. Jean told me they are on the government watch list. I am digressing - my grandson got these two picture for me before he left on vacation.
And I bought a couple of owls - hope they work.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of only four woodpeckers known
to store food, and it is the only one known to cover the stored food
with wood or bark. It hides insects and seeds in cracks in wood, under
bark, in fence posts, and under roof shingles. Grasshoppers are
regularly stored alive, but wedged into crevices so tightly that they
cannot escape.
- In addition to attacking other birds to keep them out of its territory, the Red-headed Woodpecker is also known to remove the eggs of other species from nests and nest boxes, destroy nests, and even to enter duck-nesting boxes and puncture the duck eggs.
- The Red-headed Woodpecker benefited from the chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease. The devastating tree diseases killed many trees and provided nest sites for the woodpeckers.
Ah, we get all the animals at our house or in the house - birds on the deck, squirrels in the attic, bats in the living room, and dogs in the chairs. Oh yeah bugs and spiders too. Anyone want to come over?
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
49 comments:
Woodpeckers are such handsome birds. It's a shame they can be destructive.
Oh my!!! You know how I feel about birds around here! I'm just glad we don't have one of those making a mess with our wood! Hope your day is going well!
I love the sound of a woodpecker in the morning. I just try not to think about what it's rat tat tatting on.
Interesting about the woodpecker; I didn't know a lot about him; great picture of him too Sandie!! Too cute with the dogs in the chair with the human! Enjoy your day!
betty
Oh my, Sandie. You guys do have a lot of critters visit you! Ha! They must love your sweet company. hee hee Have a great day. Susan
Sandie, that's a lot of good information that I didn't know about the woodpecker....... destructive, but sure is pretty.
I love the picture of the dog in the chair....... and the sweet poem
Have a good day!
Oh what a sweet post. Well the last anyway. I hope the Owls work! We tried Owls in Fla to keep the big birds off the pier and eliminate the 'white droppings' but alas, naught. But our problem did wash off! Yours seems to have a permanent present.
But I hope no real structural damage.
Good read!
Well he sure is handsome....the only thing I don't like about our birds around here...is all the poop they leave behind!!
that's not a redheaded woodpecker - that's a pileated. but, yikes! he's enjoying your deck!
Tough bird...he also looks very healthy...he must be enjoying your deck a lot. I feel terrible for the poor grasshoppers:(
We often have woodpeckers visit our suet cakes but I never knew they stored their food. They look like they are eating it to me. Once again you have provided me with my something new I learn every day. Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!
Good job capturing an image of that critter!
Something is digging in one of my outdoor pots - there was a hole and dirt on the deck below this morning. I'm guessing squirrel, chipmunk or bird since it is up on a table. Any ideas to keep them off of it? I already know I don't want to hang CDs. :)
Good shots of the woodpecker, but it is a shame that they do so much damage. I loved that little poem at the end, "If One Day." Lovely!
I didn't know that about the woodpecker, but I guess it's just that one type of woodpecker? I find they come and go around here. You didn't mention rats in your attic...guess you've never had those. That was a rude awakening to me when we discovered them here. That's why I stopped feeding the birds. The rats would come to the bird feeder at dusk. Actually, they looked just like the squirrels only smaller with skinny tails. The squirrels would come at dusk to feed for the last time and the rats would be arriving. The squirrels would chase them back up the tree. They ended up in the garage and from there went to the attic of the house...it was just a hop, skip and a jump. Long story, but I tried catching them first with humane traps. Yes, I don't like to kill anything. Finally, I had no choice but to put down rat poison in the attic. I have no trouble killing roaches though. I don't think you mentioned them either. Did you really have a bat in the house? I'm afraid that would really scare me.
Oh yes I would like your house. When we lived at the ranch there were so many spiders I quit trying to kill them unless of course they were Black Widows in the garage.
Oh my- he is eating your deck up something fierce! I hope the owls help!
and these red headed guys can peck a hole right in your roof and do and have and will. snapper II had one do it to their roof twice.
Love Woodpeckers, thanks for the comment on my fairy pic much appreciated.
Very cool that that little guy was right on your deck. I love bird watching!
Oh, I love the If One Day....you were there to email with me this afternoon. It's so nice to have girlfriends that care! Hugs!
We have pileated woodpeckers here too. They make the oddest sound. A loud staccato. And they look like Fred Flintstone should have had one as a pet. lol
Hi my friend, great pic's of the woodpecker.
I really loved the quote at the end of your post.
Hope you're having a great day and that you're finding some time to chillax ;)
Big hugs
Eva
Woodpeckers are cute, but can be destructive. LOVE the ONE DAY piece. Heartwarming. take care.
That's pretty special to have a pileated woody hanging out on your deck. We have them around here but they are pretty darn elusive. Terrific pics of this handsome guy! Love the photo of the man and dog. I often feel that way when I am sitting with my pug even though she is one/tenth the size of that dog.
Where did the sunshine pic come from- I love it...your posts are so perfect for my ADHD mind! Love and Hugs for the week!
Yes we get those big birds. At other place we lived. They would hammer on the old T.V intenia which should of been taken down as was not in use of it. Oh are ears.Him telling the others. This is my territory get lost. Sandi they have the whole forst or bush. Right. Why your dock.
Oh the joy of the country living. No robberies here , no polusion, less traffic lights or cars. oh my but God creatures love us. They love me and my home. I am laughing. Good blog.love the dogin the chair. Ha,ha. Reminds me of Marmaduke. He is in the chair the sofa.
True story: I kept seeing and hearing this pesky woodpecker when I was out cleaning my porch. Someone had told me me put out an owl to chase it away. I didn't have one, so... I started hooting.
Believe it or not, he left, and he hasn't been back. Try it. I dare you.
I may have found my retirement income. I can be a professional HOOTER.
Wait.
Maybe not.
That's kind of creepy that the woodpeckers store the grasshoppers alive.
First the good news, then the not so good.
Good news — beautiful bird in your yard.
Not so good — your deck is full of carpenter ants. And thus at long-term risk of falling apart.
Blessings and Bear hugs, our adversity notwithstanding.
But he is just so darn cute and that pattern on the deck is kinda unique and cool. ;)))
I have never seen a red-headed woodpecker. That must have been an awesome sight.
And tell the dog to get his own chair. And to quit beating up on the Human. Sheesh. Talk about an ill-mannered canine.
They are very destructive those birds! Love the dog and the human in the chair. Hugs, Linda
ah, how sweet of you to open your arms and home to all these critters!!! LOL!!!
Nah, I'm just kidding.
Love ya!
xoxo
*hugs*deb
That woodpecker is quite dashing even though he is doing damage to your deck!! LOVE that last quote/poem. Perfect!! blessings ~ tanna
I didn't realize that Woodpeckers were such naughty neighbors. Got give your grandson big KUDOS for taking such a good photo!
I never see pileated woodpeckers here but we do have a couple of other types that like to go after the utility pole in our backyard. I had no idea these guys went after other birds nests.
I hear that rat-tat-tat of those miserable, I mean interesting, woodpeckers all day long. We seem to be home to most of the eastern population of the USA. To think there was a time that I looked forward to seeing one.
HI Sandie, Guess you know by now that that is a Pileated Woodpecker. The Red-headed is much smaller. I have both here and neither of them have pecked on our deck... Do you have suet up somewhere for them???? I do --so I guess they are happy that I am feeding them...
Sorry about what he is doing to your deck... Hope the owls work.
Hugs,
Betsy
That bird was my favoured in TN, They are so cute and I wonder how they don't get a head ache from all that pecking.. I used to call them Woody Woodpeckers I miss them now.
Hey, that dog in the chair...LOL...they would kick us outside and take over if they could. Mine would love to own the fridge also.
Awww Sandie! I'm starting to think you should live where there aren't any trees! THH! Maybe all these animals are putting you to a test...you never know. :) Maybe some how the woodpecker will become a friend or start making some pretty music for you. :)
Love,
Marie
Ugh..I did not know red headed woodpeckers were a pain. Love the dog in chair with human.
I see woodpeckers in our yard almost daily...they peck at the plantain tree in the side yard. It's funny to watch them!
Those Pileated Woodpeckers really do look like throw backs to dinosaur days. Had a lot of them in Florida, not so much here--darn. Love the sound they make, a lot like Woody Woodpecker.
Let me know if those owls work. I am thinking of using some to reclaim my porch.
We see a few woodpeckers around here and even once a Pilated woodpecker. However any attempts they might make to store hidden bugs are most likely thwarted by our guinea fowl who keep our place relatively bug free. They have greatly reduced our scorpion and tick population.
Are you all right Sandie? I cannot come running to you, but you can write if there is anything you need me to do>
It's a beautiful bird. I don't think I have ever seen on in person. Hugs, Debby
I didn't know they "stored" grasshoppers! Yucky:)
G'Day Sandie, That guy is doing some serious damage to your deck. Still cute though, and of course, you know if I could come over I'd be there in a flash. Take care. Bye for now, Kerrie
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