We see pileated woodpeckers virtually every week. Their call is loud and distinctive. During mating season they search out hollow things to peck at, making a very loud sound. Earlier this week we were excited to get a call from a near-by friend. They had found a pileated nest in their front yard. It was about 50 feet off the ground with the hole facing the water.
They had been watching two chicks being fed by two parents. I was invited to photograph the nest and the activity. I got there on Tuesday, May 5th, at 8 a.m. One chick apparently had left the nest. The second, which I photographed, was just not ready to leave. I hoped to get a shot of the maiden flight but that was not to be.
This photograph shows a full frame shot (not cropped) with my 300 prime with 1.4 multiplier. That is an equivalent of 420mm. It was not enough. This shot was made on a tripod being careful to not vibrate the dock.
You may click any images here to view a larger version in a popup light-box. Click outside the box to edit. You may also read more about these woodpeckers on Wikipedia or various bird websites. The video below is a crude effort but you can watch it to hear the distinctive call of the chick.
