By Sally Siko
It’s always a joy to catch a glimpse of a rare bird when out in the field and one of my favorites are the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
I spotted this little one this morning hunting for a snack in the pines while birding in the Sandhills region of North Carolina.
Though it didn’t stick around for very long, it was a delight to be able to share the experience of seeing this feathered gem with my friends.
These sweet little birds were once a common sight in the southeastern regions of the United States. Due to loss of habitat, today they are considered an endangered species.The reason why is because Red-cockaded Woodpeckers require a narrow scope of forest conditions to breed. They prefer to nest in mature stands of long leaf pine trees with little or no understory. Unfortunately these old growth forests have faced rapid decline which in turn has led to the decline of this species as well.
Luckily, the Sandhills region of North Carolina is a special place where several stands of old pine trees are preserved and maintained lending to provide the perfect conditions for the Red-cockaded to nest.
Here you can see them raising their families every spring and flying around as one big happy flock throughout the rest of the year. It’s truly a special place to enjoy these wonderful birds.
I can’t wait to come back for another look when I return here to lead tours in the spring!
Want to see one for yourself? Join me on a tour. Details and booking info are found below.
Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5