Pileated Woodpecker

Rhonda
- November 21, 2008

Dan:

I live in the city of Martinsville and enjoy the Pileated Woodpeckers all year long. I love their jungle song. Just this morning, one flew to the shutter outside my window. What a beautiful creature. To live in the city, we see lots of wildlife. Copperheads, squirrels, deer galore, racoons, chipmunks, frogs, owls, hawks, blue birds, nut hatchers, even a swan was on our porch one day. I love your art and stories. You must be an Earth Sign.

Dear Rhonda:

Every time I hear from someone back your way, the memories of how beautiful it is come rushing in.  I spent a summer doing a raptor study in S.W. Maryland in the Green Ridge Mountains.  I remember the different kinds of newts and salamanders and the Eastern Box turtles.  Some of the wildlife you have there is the same as we have here in S.W. Wisconsin.  There are lots of plants and animals there that are quite different from ours and it was a special time to record some of them.

The Pileated woodpecker is generally pretty shy and doesn’t come too close but every once in a while one will land on the side of the house.  If you were to put a piece of suet in a hardware cloth basket and hang on the window frame, maybe he’ll decide he likes it.  I’ve been able to watch them from only a couple of feet away and it’s truly amazing to see them close up.

I’ve had lots of visitors on my porch over the years but a swan was never one of them.   There’s a story there.  Thanks so much for sharing my walks with me.

Naturally yours,

Dan