I was hard at work on the patio yesterday (seriously, I really was working, I swear) and heard a neighbor hammering something. “Hm, they’re really going for it. I wonder what they’re building,” I wondered after hearing this tapping for several minutes. It went on longer than it takes to, say, hang a picture or a shelf. Because I’m naturally nosy…er, curious…I got up and looked around.
Here’s the culprit, a male Red-bellied Woodpecker hammering out bugs or something from the building next door. In early spring these guys were tapping on buildings all over the compound, trying to attract a mate. Now that they’ve pretty much settled down to nesting, the males are busy finding food for their young. This guy finished his business on the building and moved on, leaving me in peace to get back to work.
Ohhh, great pic. I know we have one around here because I hear him…