Woodpeckers and Tree Foragers

Woodpeckers & Tree Foragers: Nature’s Feathered Jackhammers

By Mike – Chronicler of Bark-Drilling Lunatics

Woodpeckers and Tree Foragers Photo Albums

My First Woodpecker Encounter

I’ll never forget the morning a pileated woodpecker announced its presence by drumming on my gutter at 5 AM. As I stumbled outside half-asleep, this crow-sized dinosaur of a bird gave me a look like I was the rude one before flying off. That’s when I fell in love with these noisy, opinionated tree-climbers.

Woodpeckers don’t care about your sleep schedule, photography plans, or eardrums. They’re nature’s original punk rockers – complete with mohawks, loud music, and zero respect for personal space. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Why Woodpeckers Break All the Rules

Northern Flicker perched on a tree branch with a soft pastel sky backdrop highlighting the bird's natural habitat and unique features, perfect for nature enthusiasts.

1. The Built-In Shock Absorbers

  • Their skulls have special spongy bone to withstand 20 pecks PER SECOND
  • Photography fail: My first 100 shots were just blurry red streaks as they moved

2. The Tongue Situation

  • Barbed, sticky tongues can extend 3 times their bill length (and wrap around their skulls when retracted)
  • Gross fact: They basically have saliva superglue

3. The Drumming Language

Personal story: Had a downy woodpecker that would answer when I knocked on its tree

Each species has its own rhythm – nature’s Morse code

4. The Zany Personalities

  • Red-bellied woodpeckers will stash food anywhere – including my neighbor’s vinyl siding
  • Nuthatches are the only birds that can walk down trees headfirst

My Most Absurd Woodpecker Moments

The Gutter Bandit
A sapsucker turned my rain gutter into its personal drum set for an entire spring. The neighbors hated me.

The Acorn Obsession
Documented an acorn woodpecker’s “granary tree” with over 50,000 stored acorns. Bird equivalent of doomsday prepping.

The Window Wars
A flicker kept attacking my reflection for weeks. Got amazing close-ups of its angry face.

The Surprise Cavity
Found a nest hole at eye-level… just as three baby woodpecker heads popped out screaming for food.

Photographing Tree Foragers: Hard-Won Tips

  1. Follow Your Ears
    That loud drilling noise? Your GPS to a photo op.
  2. The Magic Angle
    Shoot slightly upward to get that iconic head-hammering pose
  3. Winter is Prime Time
    No leaves + hungry birds = best visibility
  4. Respect the Nest
    Use a long lens – parent birds stress easily

Meet the Cast [Your Photo Galleries Here]

Pileated Woodpecker

  • Cool fact: Their rectangular holes attract other wildlife
  • My shot: One mid-carpentry, wood chips flying everywhere

Red-Headed Woodpecker

  • Cool fact: They catch insects mid-air like flycatchers
  • Action shot: One stealing a nut from a blue jay

White-Breasted Nuthatch

  • Cool fact: They smear bugs around nest holes as a repellent
  • Funny capture: One hanging upside-down to scold me

Northern Flicker

  • Cool fact: They eat more ants than any other NA bird
  • Golden moment: One catching mid-day sun on its spotted feathers

Why These Birds Matter

Woodpeckers are ecosystem engineers – their abandoned holes become homes for owls, ducks, and even raccoons. But many species are declining due to habitat loss. That’s why I:

  • Leave dead trees (snags) when possible
  • Use suet feeders in winter
  • Support forest conservation

Try It Yourself

Great places to start:

  1. Listen for loud drumming in spring
  2. Check dead trees (their favorite diners)
  3. Set up a suet feeder near good perches

Remember:

  • Early morning is most active time
  • Patient silence beats chasing
  • Their hearing is better than yours

Happy birding,
Mike
FawkesFocus.com

P.S. My family now refers to 5 AM as “woodpecker o’clock.” They’re not fans.