![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/PileatedWoodpeckerMaleBlueonNaturalCrooksDotCom.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThis is a male Pileated judging by the red moustache.<\/em><\/p>\n The bird moved from one trunk to another rapidly then flew off. I\u2019m not sure it actually noticed us as it seemed more intent on finding a tree worth working on.<\/p>\n This is a female: no moustache, grey in front of crest. Pleased, we walked cautiously along the icy trail down past the lines of spruce, over the two boardwalks and almost down to the road along the Credit River. We were a bit surprised at the sudden absence of all small birds near the second last feeder.<\/p>\n Until we saw a large brown form swoop down between the logs and scrub near the last feeder. When it came back up and out, the rusty tail was spread wide and the Red Tailed Hawk\u2019s identity<\/strong><\/a> was clear. While at this park, these birds are more often after the numerous squirrels than after the small birds, I suspect the little ones nevertheless go still and quiet till it passes.<\/p>\n Sure enough within a minute, a group of chickadees began calling and joined us. Despite the full feeders they were eager to hand feed. Both of us often had 2 birds on our hand at the same time!<\/p>\n White Breasted Nuthatches<\/strong><\/a> and Dark Eyed Juncos<\/strong><\/a> were also feeding but preferred to do so from the seeds on the flat trays and stumps. Both sexes of Downy Woodpeckers<\/strong><\/a> ignored the seeds but found plenty to eat working on the trunks and branches nearby. A male Cardinal watched for a few minutes but didn\u2019t approach. Three Mourning Doves whistled in, then fluttered down to the ground to eat the spilled seeds. The only small bird I didn\u2019t see was the American Tree Sparrow<\/strong><\/a> who often visits these feeders.<\/p>\n And, to our delight, we heard another woodpecker: a Pileated began to call from nearby. My child spotted it working on the branch of a fallen tree. And a few minutes later, I saw either the same one or another working its way from trunk to trunk up the hill behind us.<\/p>\n I follow the reports on BirdAlert<\/strong><\/a>, an online tip line where people post what unusual birds they\u2019re seeing and where. In addition, reports of Christmas Bird Counts across Ontario get posted.<\/p>\n This year, starting in December 2014, I noticed many reports mentioning the Pileated Woodpeckers they had seen. Often they had seen more the usual.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\nHas the Emerald Ash Borer Created a Boon for Pileated Woodpeckers?<\/h2>\n