Another pileated encounter...

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?
 
Just the other day I stepped out from the pole barn, headed toward the house, and a red-tailed hawk swooped down over me and landed in the grass beside the house, I think i actually heard him fly over my head. No cats around, I bet he was mousing from atop the cow barn.
 
There are a lot of them where I grew up in WV, the last I checked. I have been seeing a few here in VA lately. Dad said someone told him that they are good to eat. :)
 
My buddy, a BTO east of me, said his neighbor finally got their permit to harvest 25 sand hill cranes. Their general area is plagued by thousands of those birds every year. I've been told the sand hill is the filet mignon of the sky!
 
Saw two the other day, right behind the house. Their call is very distinctive and loud when they are up close. Don't see them too often. There used to be a season on them in Missouri, quick check didn't yield any info now though. I enjoy watching them.
 
Here in southern Indiana we have flocks of cranes in the 1000s but no season on them here. They have turned into a tourist attraction.
 
Same here, and the neighborhood this guy farms is the epicenter for their flocking. There may be tens of thousands of these things at a time, and man, can they eat sprouting soybeans!

Then, the local photogs have to set up their tripod in the middle of the road to shoot hours of film, with tillage and planters or combines trying to get past.
 
Seeing sand hills around here last three years. I have pileateds here along with downy, hairy and red bellied. They get on my cedar siding going after bugs once in a while. Pileated tear up the overhangs getting carpenter bee larvae. They strip all the ash too.
 

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