Pileated Woodpecker: "Pecking Today"
What can be done but to peck away at the moments of today.
Hidden amongst the wooden towers, great and small[ - old and young.
One stands tall and alone, offering up many tomorrows.
What can be done but to peck away at the moments of today.
I took these photos on February 16, 2025. It was snowing on my hike and quiet at the conservation area. I emerged from a side trail and saw this Pileated Woodpecker. Do you see the Pileated Woodpecker in the photo below?
Over the years, I have seen Pileated Woodpeckers several times at this tree.
This tree has provided life for Pileated Woodpeckers and wildlife for generations.
After a few minutes, I continued my hike thinking about the cycles of Nature. The life of this tree stretches back decades, perhaps more and is connected to birds, mammals, insects, and neighbouring trees and plants.
English - Korean:
Woodpecker = 딱따구리 / dakdakuri
Pileated Woodpecker = 도가머리딱따구리 / doga-meori dakdakuri (roughly translates as Long-haired Woodpecker)
This Pileated I saw on January 26, 2025 was about 50 yards from the Pileated I saw in my post above. Perhaps they are the same bird:
This is an impressive sized hole Mr. Woodpecker has created for himself. I often wonder if woodpeckers get headaches. Probably not, since these birds have adapted over the years to drilling down into trees.
Excellent post, Neil. The sijo is beautiful and contemplative. The photo series is really outstanding, punctuated so well with your written observations. It's amazing to spot the Pileated in the woods, in the snow, from a distance, creating habitat in that life giving tree.:)