Yes I Know I was lucky to get so close.
And it was every day for months during the winter. The suet was right of the deck hanging in the tree, about 10 feet from my living room window.
But because they always announced themselves, I could get to the window fast. As long as I didn't move, they didn't detect me.
It was really exciting.
The really cool thing is that my husband and I are going to build a great room off the back of our house. The deck will extend off that right to a cedar tree. Since the ground slopes, the room and the deck will be level with the foliage part of the tree. So I will have exactly the same conditions as before.
Pileated are pests on the west coast of Fl. They wake me up in the morning with their infernal racket. I have literall seen dozens, large bird, funny swooping flight, inane cluck. We are also plagued by bald eagles.
Nothin special about these birds.