It took a while for this Red-headed Woodpecker to get
comfortable with me beneath his tree.
He flew away when I first arrived, but with all the holes in the trees I
knew he’d be back. The holes in the trees told me he’d been here for a long time
already. This was in one of his favorite resting spots.
Vereen Memorial Garden is on the North Carolina, South
Carolina Stateline. The Intracoastal Waterway makes up the eastern border. A quiet park with only basic
amenities…bring what you need and take nothing when you leave, except the
experience. Wide forest paths and marsh boardwalks take you around the park in
loops. With the tides, the park
changes twice a day.
It didn’t take long for the Red-headed Woodpecker to
return. He knew I was still there
on the boardwalk, but I didn’t threaten him enough to concern him. He flew between several dead Loblolly
Pines, staying half out of sight and always keeping one eye in my direction.
This is the Red-bellied
Woodpecker, a dramatically different looking bird than the Red-headed Woodpecker. I found him nearby, but much lower in the trees. I see many more of the red-bellied, than
the Red-headed Woodpecker, but that is only due to the local conditions
where I live. They’re both widespread and common birds in the eastern half of the United States.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is listed as ‘Near Threatened’,
though, due to loss of habitat. They need standing dead trees to hunt, nest and
store food. This one is looking
for a hole for a newly found acorn. They have been known to stuff live
grasshoppers into crevices to eat later, too.
Boldly feathered in red, white and black, he makes no attempt
to blend into the marsh environment. If you miss him, he will let you know where he is by
drumming out his calling card on a hollow log. Don’t pass up the invitation.
Allan
Locator for boardwalk:
Allan, Good to see you back in the "traces." John
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