Let the Chips Fly

I heard him before I saw him! This male Pileated woodpecker is habituated and comfortable with the close proximity of my camera and I. He visits our yard at least once a day for a snack of BarkButter. But this morning he was fixated on a small dead Red Bud tree. We left the tree standing for exactly this purpose. As I watched, he chipped away at one particular spot, and was obviously eating something as he worked. Most likely grubs of some kind. He allowed me to approach within six feet or so as I recorded his efforts. If you've ever wondered how woodpeckers keep flying wood chips from injuring their eyes as they work, the photo on the right provides the answer. They have a  nictitating membrane, a 'third eyelid', which helps to keep debris out of their eyes. Woodpeckers share this safety feature with camels, polar bears, aardvarks and sharks. But sadly not with us 'hoomans'. Wishing All of Us a Peaceful Week. Life is too short for anything else. m