Saturday, February 7, 2009

Camera Critters: Red-Headed Woodpecker

In October (10-11) I took another trip, my second in 2008, to Necedah NWR in central Wisconsin. The goal of my first trip, which was in early June was to capture photographs of the endangered Karner blue butterfly. My secondary goal was to get some pics of red headed woodpeckers and although I did get a couple of pics they were not as good as I hoped for. So I decided to return in October to try and get some better shots.
We first noticed the red headed woodpeckers when we visited the park back in the fall of 2007. The 2007 trip was the first time that we visited the refuge. We went looking for whooping cranes but what we found instead were red headed woodpeckers.
One reason that I was hoping to get some good red head pics is because it is currently on the Audubon Societies watch list because their population has declined almost 5% per year since 1980. Since 1966 their population has declined by around 50%.
The red heads declining numbers are primarily due to habitat loss. They rely on wooded areas with a lot of dead trees, snags and stumps, which they use for roosting and caching food. Unfortunately human activities such as clearing out dead wood, clear cutting forests, farming, and fire suppression have destroyed much of the acceptable habitat.
At Necedah there is plenty of dead trees for the red heads to roost and cavities to nest in. The seeds around for them to eat and the forest floor does not have much undergrowth. This is important because do much of their foraging for insects on the ground and in the air. They are also one of the few types of woodpeckers that cache food for future consumption and the only type of woodpecker that will cover its cache.

22 comments:

Tammie Lee said...

wonderful images. Sounds like you were a bit surprised to have this bird show up for you instead of the cranes. Lovely that you were able to get great images.

Helen said...

These are beautiful birds. Great shots. Helen

Mom Knows Everything said...

What great shots! The first one is my favorite!

Shelley said...

A beautiful bird that I've always wanted to see!

Dawn Fine said...

Thanks for the great photos of this lovely bird...I was just looking at them in Florida yesterday. We did a three mile hike around a lake and saw at least three pair. We didnt have our digiscope set up with us so I didnt get photos.
So its great to see your photos today.
thanks also for the information. I didnt realize that their population was declining so quickly...what a shame.

Anonymous said...

Great shots!

Anonymous said...

Awesome shots! You are a great photographer.

My CC post is here. Happy weekends!

Corey~living and loving said...

you got some really nice shots. I love the last one.
Happy CC!

Barbara said...

I love how vibraint the red is on this woodpecker. Great photo as always.
Smiles B

Jane Hards Photography said...

Yet again incredible. We don't get woodpeckers on the island.

Adrienne Zwart said...

Oh, wow! Your posts always impress me. And since I've never seen one of these outside the pages of a field guide, your photos are a real treat! Great captures!

Dancin Fool said...

What a beautiful bird. Great shots!

Dancin Fool said...

P.S. Are you holding a Golden Eagle in your identity shot?

Mary said...

This is the one woodpecker that I never see. I saw one last year for the first time in New Harmony,IN but didn't get a good photo. Maybe I'll get lucky and see it again this year. It's a pretty woodpecker. Sorry to hear they are declining.

Dianne said...

he's beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

Stunning images! I haven't seen one of these birds in years.

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Great captures! His red head certainly stands out.

Carolina said...

Oh wow, redheaded they are. Beautiful photos! Especially liked the first one.

Ecobirder said...

Dancin' Fool actually the eagle in my ID shot is an immature bald eagle. It is a small picture which makes it kind of hard to tell but you would not find white feathers on the breast of a golden eagle like there are on this bird.

Anonymous said...

Great photos! Thanks for sharing.

There is a Pileated Woodpecker that likes to peck my chimney cap during the Spring. He's terribly annoying but a gorgeous bird nonetheless.

Anonymous said...

Excellent shots. They're so sharp and clear and that little red head is just amazing. :-)

Anonymous said...

Hello!
I work for the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital and we are working on trail signs for Potomac Woods Girl Scout Camp. I was wondering if we could have permission to use your Red-headed Woodpecker, picture on our sign? If we can email me back at hmahony@umd.edu
Thanks!

Holly Mahony

Girl Scout Council of
the Nation's Capital