The woods behind my house have supported pileated woodpeckers through all the years I have lived here which is now 24 years. Through all of that time I recall seeing a pileated maybe twice and then only fleetingly. That was until yesterday. Yesterday a pair settled into a tree and a fallen log about 100 feet behind my house. Together they worked over the fallen log in search of their midday meal. I have always left dead trees and fallen branches in place as I know they are a key part of the forest ecosystem. Yesterday was a great reward for that practice. The woodpeckers had a great target and so did I. Here is the female in the foreground and the male behind.
