shelter

One of the trees in the wild wild woods fell a long time ago.  It has survived in horizontal position, spreading its branches above.  And, it allowed the critters to hollow out a shelter along its sprawl.

nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatches forage up, down, and sideways on tree trunks and around large branches.
They often start high in a tree and move down head first, probing into bark crevices or chipping away at wood to find food while moving quickly at odd angles.  On a vertical surface like a suet cage, they turn upside down, pausing to crane their necks up and back for a look around.  

feathers of Downy Woodpeckers

Downy woody  Picoides pubescens
is the smallest woodpecker of the wild wild woods.  We see two or three at a time, searching up and down the trees for insects within the folds of bark.


The nasal bristles (stiff yellow feathers above the beak) keep wood crumbs out of the bird's nasal openings as he searches for food or excavates a nest hole in a tree.



Downy Woodpeckers stop at the water bowl too, where this tiny feather was left behind. It may be from the top of this male's head.

feet and beak

We heard the shrill whinnying calls of the male Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus as he made his way through the woods, then came to the suet block for breakfast.  He thrust his strong beak into the food, scattering some crumbs to the ground and gulping a few pieces into his gullet.  Once he had a mouthful, he went to a nearby tree where he used the rough bark to hold the suet as he consumed it.  His tongue has a spear-like tip bearing backward-facing barbs that allow him to lick food items from between the folds of tree bark.  Pileated Woodpeckers' favorite food is carpenter ants; also other ants, wood boring beetle larvae, termites, flies, caterpillars, cockroaches, grasshoppers, wild fruits and nuts.
Woodpeckers have zygodactyl feet (two toes facing forward, one facing back) and allows these birds to easily climb and grasp bark, tree branches and other structures.

snag tree

"Snag" refers to a still-standing dead tree,

or one dying from damage, often missing its top or most of the smaller branches. This old snag has been here in the wild wild woods at least ten years.  It still has bark up one side and several growing branches lean out in that direction every year.  The exposed wood gets softer as time goes by, so it nurtures mushrooms and insects.

 

 The southeast side is bald, revealing its value to the wildlife that live in the woods. In cold weather, birds shelter overnight in the old woodpecker holes.  In nesting season, it becomes home to at least one new clutch of avian eggs.  The woodpeckers and nuthatches find nutritious insects hiding among the crevices. Today, it harbors a nut storehouse and a cozy grass-lined den for some critter.

A pile of peelings from Bitternut Hickory nuts.

Peeled nuts stashed in a hole of the snag.

180 degree swivel

Cold, sub-zero windy day.  In the sun against dark tree bark was a safe place for this female Red-bellied Woodpecker to rest for a while.  Fluffed into a ball of feathery down, claws dug in and red belly against the bark, she was able to bask in the sun as long as she kept watch for predators  . . .  hence the head swiveled around over her back!

January woodpecker

This female Hairy Woodpecker is finding insects or larvae in the folds of bark on the elm tree.  She can probe into the crevices with her long bill, and her strong tail helps her balance against the force of her pecking.

dogwood

The Cardinal Dogwoods have been a vibrant show all winter against the white snow. With warmer weather the bark will turn golden and green leaves will appear.