Am I cleared for take off is a photograph by Kym Backland which was uploaded on May 24th, 2013.
Am I cleared for take off
This Pileated Woodpecker is so funny! He broke off from his Mother a few months ago. He comes to this chair I have and look at me through the window.... more
by Kym Backland
Title
Am I cleared for take off
Artist
Kym Backland
Medium
Photograph
Description
This Pileated Woodpecker is so funny! He broke off from his Mother a few months ago. He comes to this chair I have and look at me through the window. Every animals like to come to this stump, and drill it, rub on it, put their mark or scent on it. You can tell this Pileated is still young. His crest is not as big as his Mother's yet. He really looks like he is asking me.. " Captain, am I cleared for take off yet?" I told him "Yes, and he was free to move about the cabin too!".
Some of those bird facts you might want to know? hehe..
Identification: Slightly smaller than the American Crow, this woodpecker is mainly brown-black and white. In flight, the upper wings are black with small white areas at the base of the base of the primary flight feathers. Perched birds appear mostly black above, with white on the side of the neck. The white line on each side of the neck drops below each wing to merge with the white wing lining. Each white line begins in front of the eye at the base of the bill, passes beneath the eye, notches up high over the cheek and ear region of the head, and extends down to the neck. The chin and upper throat are white and the head bears a large, rear-facing crest. Males have a red forehead, crown, and crest, while females have a gray to yellow-brown forehead. The dark bill is around two inches in length. Males have a white line above and behind each eye, merging with the red crest; in females, this white line is thinner. Females have a black moustache (malar) extending from the lower mandible to the dark breast; males are similar, but with red feathers in the moustache under the eye. The leading edge of the underwing is white; white wing coverts form a broad oval patch bordered by a broad black trailing edge and wing tip. Flies in a labored, undulating way. Voice: Most often heard is a "cuk, cuk, cuk . . ." sound, not unlike the quieter calls of Northern Flicker, accelerating and becoming higher in pitch. Drumming is slow and deliberate. Habitat
This species requires late successional stages of forest for habitat, as well as younger forests that have scattered, large, dead trees for food, nesting, and roosting. In younger forests they requires larger areas: 3,904 acres of virgin forest supports 3-6 pairs of Pileated Woodpeckers, while the same area of secondary forest will support just one pair. They also require larger trees with dead centers for roosting, where the bird excavates only the entrance hole. Feeding Most studies of diet describe it as being constituting more than half by animal matter, mainly Carpenter Ants. In addition, Thatching Ants, beetles, other insects, and vegetable matter make up around one quarter of the total. In one study, Pileated Woodpeckers spent 58% of their foraging time on dead wood and 36% on live wood. In another study, the birds fed on dead wood 96% of the time, 44% on snags, and 36% in dead logs. Nesting
Both sexes excavate a cavity in tree 15 to 125 feet above the ground. The oval entrance is taller than wide, about 4-6 inches in diameter. The cavities measure between 10 and 24 inches deep, and the birds construct a new one each year. The clutch ranges in size from 1 to 6 eggs, with an average of 3.8 eggs per clutch. Parents share in raising young, and the young leave the nest about four weeks after hatching. Migration No evidence of migration, though some southern movement of northwest birds apparent in the fall. Conservation StatusThe removal of dead and living trees with large diameters has the largest effect on eliminating nesting, roosting and feeding sites. Forest fragmentation reduces population density and exposes birds to predation as they fly between patches. This species has also been the victim of extensive shooting and is currently protected. The USGS Breeding Bird Survey shows an average annual increase of 1.9% across North America between 1966 and 2003. Management should be focused on extending forest harvest rotations to maintain foraging and nesting habitat, and retain dead and dying trees in a range of habitats.
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May 24th, 2013
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Viewed 522 Times - Last Visitor from Wilmington, DE on 02/22/2024 at 1:16 PM
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Comments (50)
Teresa A Lang
Kym, nice shot! I love these birds. And I too have tried to get a decent shot of one. Their calls fill the air with a "Jungle-like" song . But, for such big birds they are shy, and continue to elude me. So happy you were able to get close enough to this "woody" to get such a fantastic capture. L/F
JIJO GEORGE
Congratulations!!! your photo is now featured in the amazing colors of nature group! Keep Shooting!
Quita Jean
Great capture! Still trying to capture the one in my yard, but boy he is quick or really shy!
Kym Backland
DIGITAL DESIGNS - SCOTT Thank you for the multiple features yesterday. I appreciate the feature of my photo AM I CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF? in your group FAA BIRD PORTRAITS.. I have seen so many great bird images I have never seen before... thanks again Scott!
Kym Backland
SAVANNA PAINE, Hello new group leader! Thank you for the feature of my photo AM I CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF in your excellent.. and really good concept for a group 100 VIEWS PHOTOGRAPHY. I appreciate it Savanna.. (no H at the end)..
Kym Backland
FAYE GIBLIN, Happy Friday to you ! Thank you for the feature today! I appreciate you featuring my photo AM I CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF? In your group GREAT ART FOR COMMENTS AND VOTES.. .. I appreciate it ...You gave me so many...
Penny Meyers
Fantastic capture, Kym!! It is my goal to capture one of these guys some day. I've only seem them a couple of times around here. F/V
Kym Backland replied:
Penny, Oh I hope you find one to "shoot" someday! I appreciate your visit and votes today!
Harold Bonacquist
Tremendous shot; great bokeh.
Kym Backland replied:
Harold, Thank you so much, that means a lot coming from YOU! Your lighting is so gorgeous in your photos!
Kym Backland
SARAH, Our new group leader! Hello! Thank you for the feature of my photo AM I CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF? In your group TRICK SHOTS.. I really appreciate your time and this new group!
Will Borden
Hi Kym~~great stance on this young woodpecker and beautifully photographed! Sure is terrific to have all of the wildlife coming and going around one's home!!! Regards! F&V!
Kym Backland replied:
Will, Thanks for your visit and votes, and wonderful comments as always.. Happy Summer to you!
Christine Burdine
What a cool guy~ Great photo and story too of course. Look at those talons! wow, love this, voted
Kym Backland replied:
Christine, Wow, I never think of a Woodpecker as having "Talons" but it is true! Ummm you made me "think" today! Thanks for your votes too!
Ramon Martinez
Beautiful shot and bird. I like the deep of field.
Kym Backland replied:
Ramon, thanks for your comments on this photo! I love shallow DOF too, well obviously.. It's like a painting in the background.. anyways.. thank you!
Michel Verhoef
Wow Kym ! You got him...pin sharp and so close....great one :)
Kym Backland replied:
Michel, Thanks for the kind compliment. I think I am finally get the hang of the new camera... I appreciate your words about the focus..
Rosalie Scanlon
Wonderful capture, I have been trying to get a good capture of this Woodpecker for years, they do a great job of hiding in Florida, and if there not hiding they a so fast. v/f
Kym Backland replied:
Rosalie, Thanks so much! I am in awe of YOUR photos.. so many cool Heron's and action shots! Thanks for your votes too!