This big guy was a pecking for bugs on an old stump this morning in $ Bay, not to many of them around. I think they are protected species??? Wish I could have caught him on the side of a tree, it would have been more impressive.

Actually, Robert, you have captured a more unique pose. In my many years working as a forester I have never seen one working so close to the ground. Most often they are fairly high in a tree hammering for bugs.

I taught for one year(1964/65) in Ahmeek. I had only seen the holes the pileated woodpecker creates, but the kids who attended that school were well acquainted with them and called them "cocks of the walk, if I remember correctly.Wish I had caught sight of one--never did!

By RCW $ Bay on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 09:32 am:

Here's an example of their work on a cedar at our cottage in Bootjack. This tree must have at least a dozen holes on it.

My husband and I had the wonderful pleasure of watching one for about 10 minutes when we stayed in Copper Harbor. This one was about 4 feet off the ground. They are impressive birds.

My husband and I saw one for the first time in our back yard last month here in White Bear Lake, MN. Never had the chance to see one when I lived in the Keweenaw but glad to see they are showing up! Great photo!!!

You should see what these cute little darlins do to a log cabin or a cedar sided generator shed. I have no fondness for any woodpecker. I believe these are protected by the Federal Goverment. We have had this species around our camp. Nice to look at....but.

Thank you! You've reassured me that they *are* here! I've been hearing them off in the woods but haven't caught sight of one yet.

A zillion years ago in Georgia, I watched one demolishing a rotten log on the ground. There was no "peck, peck, peck" to it! More of a "ZAT! ZAT!" and wood chips flying everywhere.

If they're working on your cabin or shed, there's probably something six-legged living inside that wood...

They really are magnificent; we saw two in the woods in the park (near the mouth of the river feeding L. Superior) on the west side of the Porkies last year.

From http://www.cvco.org/science/audubon/mayarticle.htm, "Woody Woodpecker is actually based (mostly) on a Pileated Woodpecker. If you have never seen one, they are truly a sight to see. They are the largest living woodpeckers in the country at 16 inches. (Only the probably extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker was larger.) They have red pointy crests (like Woody), long, sharp bills (like Woody) and their call sounds an awful lot like laughter. Although the call of the Pileated Woodpecker is not EXACTLY like Woody's, Woody's laugh is based on the Pileated's. Woody is also based, in part, on the Red-headed Woodpecker. His head is all red (like the Red-headed's but unlike the Pileated's), his belly is white (again, like the Red-headed's, not the Pileated's) and his back is dark (like both)."

We see the pileated woodpeckers in North Florida during the wintertime. Not often but at least once a year one will pound a minute or two on a pine tree in the side yard. Yes they are very loud, you will know when they are around. They are very large and quite pretty to see flying around.

It's amazing the things you learn on the Pasty Cam. Thanks, folks. Great shot, RCW.

I too have seen quite a few, always in the south though, and rarely on the ground. It is truely amazing to watch them wield that bill of theirs, you can be sure the "Wood Chunks" are flying !!!

I had the distinct pleasure for the last two summers of watching a pair of Pileated raise their young in a tree in our yard. Unfortunately Mother Nature finally took their home away and now I only hear them in the woods across the road. The Bootjack does hold many truly marvelous sights.

EXCELLENT shot! Those birds are awesome..no doubt about it! When they are in "pecking" mode, you know it. Last winter, a friend had one that made a daily visit to his backyard..about 4pm. Was that thing cool to watch!

About two years ago there were a pair of pileated woodpeckers pecking on a pine tree in our yard. They spent most of the day for 3 days, on that tree. We set up our telescope so we could watch them up close. We were hoping they were going to nest there, but alas, after three days they were gone.

Those Pileated woodpeckers sure are noisy making their holes or looking for bugs. Also when they fly. Their wings sorta whistle. I have seen several in southern Marquette county when I worked in the woods. Have you heard them, RCW?
Nice picture, pytavay!

Ken;, Havnt heard them in flight. We have a pair of Sand Hill cranes across the lake and what a call they have. Im hopeing to get a shot of them in flight.

They are the coolest bird in the woods.
Great shot.

We had one of these working on a fallen log on our waterfront in Bootjack earlier this week. If I had known how rare a sight this was, I would have run for the camera!

I just returned from a May fishing trip to northern Ontario, straight north of calumet and saw MANY of these woodpeckers and in the heavy cut-offs (Canada levels the ground when they go in to timber) several sandhill cranes too. The place was alive with birds of distinction, but the weather was cold and it snowed most of the time making the usually good fishing poorer than normal. One week later the weather and the fishing improved, even though I was not there to enjoy it. Next year I will take my digital and get some shots and email them to Pasty central.

Fantastic shot, Robert! I haven't even been lucky enough to get a photo of one at all! They are such remarkable birds! I have seen them in Michigan several times but mostly just hear them!
I'll be watching for them this summer, this time with my video cam!

RCW, When the sand hill cranes go over, they are so nice to watch. They have a call that sounds like 'Gronk'!! Doesn't seem to fit the bird. Turkey buzzards also are impressive to see flying. But, are they ugly to look at. :o) I reckon I ain't that much to see either, but.....But those sand hills, turkey buzzards and Great Blue herons are just like watching a ballet in the sky. A pair flies just like one bird! Just wondermous.

I sure would have liked to have seen that guy. I grew up in the UP but don't remembe ever seeing one. I did get to see one however, a few years back near Florence, Oregon. It sure was great to see. The world would be a sad place without any birds.

Testing for you Bernie

Bob, great photo of pileated woodpecker. Rarely see them on the ground to photograph. Have seen a couple this Spring in my neighborhood in Grand Marais, Minnesota. These birds remind of the prehistoric era.

me and my husband was leaving one morning and we spoted this pileated woodpecker on our willow tree was very low to ground he was beutiful.only seen him twice.we do have a red-headed woodpecker who is here all day everyday he doesnt seem to be afraid we can be outside the grandchildren playing and he will fly around from tree to tree and eat suiet cakes and hit the bird feeders not very far away from us or very high up he is just so pretty to watch and when he flies.