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This week, many signs of spring occurred along the North Shore. One highlight is the pileated woodpeckers making their new nesting cavities.

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Pileated Woodpecker 002

Pileated woodpeckers never use the same nest twice. They completely construct a new one every year. Other critters such as owls, flying squirrels and ducks will use the old nests for their homes making the pileated an important link in the lives of other animals.

We have a new nest being built in an aspen tree behind our house. The male has been working all week on it. It takes many hours to chip out enough wood to finish the cavity. The inside of the cavity is about 10 inches across and 18 inches deep. The ground below is covered with the wood chips.

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Bird books state that both the male and female make the nests but I have only seen the male constructing the nest. The male has the red mustache. From time to time the female flies in, gives a few words of encouragement and approval and the male gets back to work.

It is fun to watch as the male throws the chips over his shoulder. The nest should be finished by the end of this week. I am looking forward to photographing the babies later in June.

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This is a photo of the male when he first started constructing the nest. His feathers are all in good shape.

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This is a photo after he has been working on the nest for several days. It is hard work. You can see that his feathers are being pushed around from him constantly going in and out of the nest. Sometimes he seems tired and rests with his beak open.

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