I had an excellent time leading a birding tour this past weekend because I got to share an encounter with the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker with my guests.
It was so cool to watch these lovely little birds flying in and out of their nest cavity and hearing the excited squeaks from the chicks inside the nest!
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These sweet little birds were once a common sight throughout the southeastern regions of the United States. Unfortunately due to loss of habitat, today they are considered an endangered species.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 has led to the decline of this species.
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Luckily, the Weymouth Woods Preserve is a special place where the old pine trees are preserved and maintained lending to provide the perfect conditions for the Red-cockaded to breed. Here you can see them raising their families every spring and throughout the summer months. It’s truly a special place to enjoy these wonderful birds.Btw, I’ve still got a few spots open for guests to join me next weekend for my birding photography tours to Weymouth Woods. If you’d like to come along with me to find the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, check the link below for booking information!
https://birdwatchingnc.com/birdwatching-n-c-trips-birding-in-north-carolina/birding-at-the-weymouth-woods-sandhills-nature-preserve/
Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding both captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5