Pileated Woodpecker

My quest to find North America's largest surviving woodpecker.

      It began in Muir Woods in California. During a day of hiking through magnificent Redwoods in an awe-inspiring forest whilst paying homage to the ancient trees, I heard the excited chatter of the elusive woodpecker high in the canopy. Despite only a few tantalizing glimpses of the only surviving large US species, it was a totally rewarding experience on a perfect day in the company of our Californian colleagues.

Some years later, whilst spending time in a log cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, I was on the back porch enjoying morning coffee and wondering how the Black Bears had managed to open the garbage container for their evening meal. When, suddenly a large dark bird landed on the opposite side of the pine tree right in front me. My first thoughts were this is a Black Woodpecker - but this is North America not the European Alps - so that rules out that possibility. Then, the obliging creature hopped around the tree trunk to reveal its self briefly and then took off, leaving me quite breathless with disbelief! Finally, recovered and armed with binoculars, I chased bear-footed after my favourite bird, only to catch just another brief shadow of the elusive creature flying away. This was my first real experience of this charismatic woodpecker in close proximity.

I then travelled south to Saint Augustine, Florida and stayed on a quiet little side street where a bird feeder was providing sustenance for Gray Squirrels and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Something unexpected happened when a large woodpecker landed on top of a utility/telegraph pole nearby. Remarkably different as compared to the dramatic neck wrenching efforts of observing shadows high in the canopy of the giant Redwoods, here was my elusive Pileated Woodpecker! After a brief period of staring at each other -  it took off - never to be seen again.

Until yesterday that is, at the same Saint Augustine location in Florida. This time it revealed itself in all its glory. Complete with loud calls and a demonstration of its very powerful and distinctive direct flight, it was very unlike the typical undulating woodpecker flight. Yesterday's sight proved to be the most rewarding observation of this truly handsome creature thus far.

Enjoy while you can 

Both the Ivory-billed and Imperial (the largest woodpecker in the world) are a little larger but now extinct. Whilst we still have this beauty, let us rejoice, and continue to preserve the virgin forest of the Southeastern United States for all the woodpeckers there. I often read "only a Pileated" written by investigating teams spending months in the Singer Tract of northeastern Louisiana in search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. A valuable, courageous and noble attempt to locate an eradicated animal.  Although, I do smile when reading that observations turn out to be a only a Pileated. Fortunately, the Pileated is relatively abundant, still considered uncommon, but widespread in the USA.
       

Therefore, you could discover a Pileated Woodpecker. Believe me - every encounter is a celebration! Keep searching. Maybe one of us will even stumble across an Ivory-billed Woodpecker someday. There are a lot of Birders out there. If this bird is not extinct we will!