Dave H (MI)
Well-known Member
Walking back to the shed to build a sawhorse and I heard one call from the woods across the hayfield to the west/on my left. Couldn't resist the challenge so I walked past the shed and then cut around to the SW corner of the woods and entered the path there and tried stalking where I last heard a call. About 200 feet in I caught sight of the bird at the edge of the woods on my left flying south. Landed in a tree just outside the woods where I had entered so I very slowly headed back and managed to catch him in the top of a tree preening. He took off after a few minutes and I headed back into the woods. I was thinking about how strange it was after decades of wandering thru woods, casually watching wildlife, hoping to see one of these large woodpeckers and I am just lately seeing them so often. I was well into the woodlot searching the fresh snow for tracks when I noticed a lot of wood chips on the snow. Before I could look up there was a loud shriek from in front of me and I saw a second pileated hanging on the side of a dead hickory about ten feet away. Just about stopped my heart with it's alarm call but I got a really good look for maybe a minute and a half while it flitted about in front of me. Then it took off in the same general direction as the first one and I continued my walk...came out on the hayfield and walked across to the shed. Now I am plotting to catch one on my trail cam. Wonder if I can bait them with suet?