Sunday, May 3, 2009

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

One day we noticed his handiwork on our tulip poplar tree. I suspected a woodpecker since the holes weren't random like a boring insect's holes might be. My suspicions were confirmed when I googled the patterned holes on tree trunks. But we don't recall ever seeing him. Until last night.

I was sitting in the living room and heard this tiny tapping almost like the flapping of wings. I turned in the direction of the sound and guess who was visiting his favorite tree. Tap tap tap...I'm killing your tree...tap tap tap.

So, I set out to get a photo. Obviously he didn't care how close I got. There he is. Pretty striking even if he does spell death for my tree. And he really does use his tail feathers like a tripod to balance on the tree. Tap tap tap.

1 comment:

Angela said...

We have a wood pecker too, different species. Man, those things are persistent. Our bird was pecking the house, not good. He finally got the hint, after I continued to throw pinecones at him whenever I could. Good luck with the tree.