Pileated Woodpeckers...

[Outside Bend]

As I was sitting under a tree this morning not hearing turkeys, I suddenly realized I wasn't hearing pileated woodpeckers, either. I did see one around 12:30, but it seems as though when I began hunting turkeys a dozen or so years ago, you'd see several of the birds on an average day.

The property I hunt was moderately logged about five years ago, and I initially attributed the absence of pileateds to that. But there's still lots of canopy cover, still lots of mature trees, and still lots of snags- and other woodpecker species seem to be common.

Has anyone noticed anything similar?

[Ham]

As I was sitting under a tree this morning not hearing turkeys, I suddenly realized I wasn't hearing pileated woodpeckers, either. I did see one around 12:30, but it seems as though when I began hunting turkeys a dozen or so years ago, you'd see several of the birds on an average day.

The property I hunt was moderately logged about five years ago, and I initially attributed the absence of pileateds to that. But there's still lots of canopy cover, still lots of mature trees, and still lots of snags- and other woodpecker species seem to be common.

Has anyone noticed anything similar?

Nope. Still got plenty around my house.

[ness]

I dunno, man. I saw one up here the other day, and we don't see them much.

[watermen]

See them around the house all the time, but I live in the woods. They'll be at the pole barn eaves before long they drill them every year. Turkey numbers are way down here in Rolla had a textbook opening day, but it's hard to find a bird to work later this year. Hve some at the house, but the public land birds are scarce or just not thick like they were four or five years ago.

[jdmidwest]

Don't know where you are hunting, but if I was after wood hens, I would have several limits on the farm. Have not busted a turkey yet.

[Quillback]

I have a pair of pileateds that hang around the woods by the house, they've been pretty active lately.

[Guest P. owensby]

Crazy you guys bring this up, they are featured in this most recent Mo. Dept. of consevation magazine...Beautiful Birds !!!

[tjulianc]

We see plenty pileated woodpeckers here in the Arkansas portion of the Ozarks, or as a friend of mine calls them, based off their call, The Great Ozark Baboon.

[Greg]

My experience has been the exact opposite. I think I had only seen one or 2 of these birds in my entire life. But I've seen several in the past year. Including in my own neighborhood.

Greg

[Coldspring]

Got plenty around my house here in the woods, had one pecking on it for a while. I see them all the time on other properties.

Saw a Painted Bunting this morning at the feeder.