If this post were about good photography, you wouldn't see this post today. While the behavior is fascinating, the photography leaves something to be desired. So be fascinated, but not too critical.
As I was saying yesterday, with the emerging leaves, it becomes almost impossible to shoot into the woods. There are just too many other objects between the camera and the subject that the camera will focus on. This image is about the best of the lot.
I'm sure the female of the pair was somewhere close, but I didn't see her or hear her during this encounter. He had a rather large hole started in an upright dead log and he was looking for the ants and bugs that break down trees in that kind of condition.
This is exactly the reason I think it is best not to remove a tree in this state. It actually poses no threat. The top fell over long ago and the trunk is probably no more than ten feet tall. When if finally does fall over, nothing is going to be damaged.
Now that I know this tree is on his menu, I can keep an eye on it. It is a sure bet he will return a few more times now that it is at the proper stage of rot.
They have this one thing that they do that I find pretty funny where they will peck a little bit, then press their bill against their chest and lean in and look for bugs. It kind of reminds me of an old man looking over the top edge of a pair of bifocals.
He moved around to the opposite side of tree at one point but didn't stay there very long.
He actually looks like he might be eating something in this photo.
Just a reminder - voting for the viewer favorite in the 2013 Chesapeake Bay Foundation photo contest ends today. If you haven't voted, you might consider going over to www.cbf.org and voting for my photo. Or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment