[BluH2o]

Great news ... the ivory billed woodpecker, if it makes it back from near extinction would be a plus for all Americans. The pilated woodpecker ( a cousin of the ivory billed) is an impressive bird ... however, not nearly as striking as the ivory billed. We had a pilated awhile back who found a hollow tree not far from our home ... it sounded like a jackhammer. Apparently they like hollow trees, not only as a food source, but apparently the god awful racket attracts the opposite sex. Sort of like a teenager cruising down main street in a hotrod without a muffler ... the more noise the better.

[BluH2o]

Correction ... make that pileatedwoodpecker.

[gorush]

I have watched the pileated fly on to a tree and do the rat-a-tat-tat-tat thing, then fly down to the bottom of the tree and work its way up with single pecks as it picks off the insects that were aroused by it's initial sustained pecking.

[Dustbunny]

We had a pilated awhile back who found a hollow tree not far from our home ... it sounded like a jackhammer. Apparently they like hollow trees, not only as a food source, but apparently the god awful racket attracts the opposite sex.

Maybe that is what we have around here. Whatever they are, they drum on the transformers and metal roofs.

Then too, it could be a ‘Flicker, they also drum.