Jan
21
2010
This is the second day in a row I heard the distinct wild cackle of a piliated woodpecker. I strained to spot it in the woods across from me but no luck. In eight years I have only seen one three or four times.
The first time I spotted a really large bird alight on a stump eighty yards away. I quickly ran in the house to grab my binoculars and then was able to identify it. It is an over twelve inch high exotic looking bird with a red crest.
They have somewhat come back for the woods have grown back. I don’t know why it was so important for me to actually see the bird but it was. Nevertheless, I was thrilled to hear its call and know it was in the neighborhood again.