Mike S. wrote:
So, I guess my question is whether anybody else is noticing more
Pileateds than usual, or is this simply a matter of spending time where
the birds happen to be? Personally, I find the prehistoric looks of the
Pileated woodpecker make it visually stunning and oddly fascinating.
my impression(and Will could probably put numbers on this) is that both
spring and Xmas area bird counts have shown steadily increasing Pileated
nos. for the last decade (although this could always be an artifact of
more birders better covering more areas). Places I frequent were showing
increased nos. for about 8 yrs. and then the last couple yrs. seem way
down, hopefully just dumb luck on my part -- I'm amazed every spring at
the no. of strangers and nonbirders I run into who've had Pileateds in
their yards and feeders!!
And YES!, clearly the MOST STUNNING bird of the forest! : - )
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**Rob Gluck......... Chapel Hill,NC......... thrush@hotmail.com
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