Woodpeckers make loud music throughout the state

If you spend time walking the countryside, nature will give you little surprises just to spice things up. If that happens to be your work environment as it was for me — and continues to be in a more casual way — or if you are a regular woods-walker, the odds of running into the occasional rarity are amplified. You're also more likely to hear about other's observations because they may interpret your meanderings as that of an expert in the field — pun intended. Those chance observations are why I like fishing streams. There tends to be a lot of wildlife activity to watch when the fish aren't cooperating while also allowing my mind to wander more than my feet. One spring day, while doing a little spin fishing in the Sandusky River near Collier State Nature Preserve, Ohio's largest woodpecker traveled by in its bouncing flight characteristic of the woodpecker clan. With seven species of woodpeckers roaming Ohio, it's not unusual to have a few of them visiting a feeding station basis or scouting out the trunks of a dead trees. The most common of those tree-drummers is the diminutive downy woodpecker. This sparrow-sized bird is the smallest, most abundant, and seemingly tamest of Ohio's woodpeckers. Then there's its cousin, the hairy woodpecker. Another common visitor spotted snacking on sunflower seeds, suet cakes and peanut butter, it appears to be a slightly jumbo-sized downy. Both species sport black and white patterns on their backs with primarily white breasts. Other commonly spotted Ohio woodpeckers include the red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers, and the northern flicker. There's also Yosemite Sam's favorite epithet when describing Bugs or Daffy, the yellow-bellied sapsucker. It's more transient, passing through Ohio during late March and April. They're not easily found and are very locally distributed — most likely spotted near wet, deciduous forests or the margins of bogs where birch, beech and aspen are prevalent. True to their name, these little guys drill holes less for insects but more for the sap in the trees. Of course, sap-basted ants are fair game, too. Then there's the big boy in the forest, the second largest woodpecker in North America. The ivory-billed woodpecker captures the crown as the biggest. Unfortunately, it's likely that Ohio's largest woodpecker now reigns as king of North America because it's suspected that the ivory-billed is extinct, having lost its battle to habitat loss. It should be noted that some experts are still searching for any possibility that the ivory-billed could be hiding in the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana. While doubtful, I hope they find them. In the meantime, Ohio is one of the states hosting our country's largest woodpecker — the pileated. Standing 19 inches tall with a 30-inch wingspan, the pileated woodpecker offers a spectacular presence. They sport a prominent Woody Woodpecker red crest, contrasting sharply with its predominantly black back, bold black and white neck and a dark, stout bill. The male can be distinguished by his red mustache. Their loud, cackling-laugh reaches a loud crescendo that reminds me a of a flicker on a hard rock band's amplifier. Its rising then descending call echoes throughout the forest, triggering many spring Tom turkeys to shout back with a booming gobble. It's a permanent resident in larger woodlands and forested areas, particularly in unglaciated southeastern Ohio. It can also be found in larger forests in other parts of Ohio, particularly near wooded riparian waterways where the trees have survived the saw and plow. They're spotted sporadically in Northwest Ohio, including Wyandot, Seneca and Hardin counties. I've also seen them in Hancock County, near Mount Blanchard and once near Litzenberg Memorial Woods. I consider these sightings relatively rare and a real pleasure. On that spring fishing trip along the Sandusky River, the big bird I spotted was our pileated woodpecker. I watched as it landed on a large dead tree and began banging away on its hollowing trunk. Enough woodchips were flying that an axman would have blushed at the effort. Not having binoculars with me, my best guess is that rather than using the tree as either a sounding board or food source, it was working on creating or improving a nesting cavity. If that was indeed the case, the cavity would have been used without nesting material and the female would lay 3 to 5 white eggs within its protective confines. Incubation lasts 12-14 days, the young fledging 26-28 days after hatching while both parents took care of their offspring by watching over the nest site and bringing food for their growing youngsters. Pileated woodpeckers specialize in feeding on insects, especially carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. They are quite adept at hammering out large chunks from dead trees during their search for food. They'll also eat fruits, nuts, and berries. They especially have an itch for snacking on poison ivy berries. A pileated pair doesn't migrate, staying together within their territory all year round. Their loud drumming on hollow trees is used as a warning to others of their kind that the area has been taken and that any interlopers are trespassing. If that doesn't work, they'll defend their area by chasing, calling, striking with their wings and taking a few jabs with that stiff bill. The evidence of this secretive and adaptive bird's presence is often best found in the area it's feeding. Their holes or diggings are oval or oblong, rather than round like all the other woodpeckers' poundings. Its ability to survive in many wooded habitat types has allowed the pileated to survive human habitation of North America better than the more specialized; and ill-fated, ivory-billed. While the pileated is now recognized as North America's largest woodpecker (assuming the absence of the ivory-billed), it isn't the world's largest. That honor goes to the imperial woodpecker of Mexico. Reaching lengths of 23.6 inches and with a wingspan of 30 inches, it would be an impressive sight. Like the ivory-billed, loss of habitat and illegal killing of the birds have pushed it toward extinction, with no official sighting since 1956. Number two on the largest woodpecker list is the great slaty woodpecker living in parts of Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. With a 23-inch length and 30-inch wingspan, it's the largest woodpecker a traveling birder can hope to see considering the dire circumstances of the imperial and ivory-billed. To round out the top 10 largest, number 3 is the black woodpecker inhabiting parts of Asia including China, Korea, and Japan, and also native to the majority of Europe, just not the UK. Number 4 is the mentioned ivory-billed. Number 5 find is held by our pileated. Number 6 is the Megellanic woodpecker of Argentina and Chile. Number 7 is held by Europe's European green woodpecker. Number 8 goes to the lineated woodpecker which resides across Argentina, Mexico, and Trinidad. Number 9 is North America's norther flicker. It's also found in Mexico and Cuba. Finally, number 10 on the list goes to Levaillant's woodpecker found in mountainous forests of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. "All bad jazz sounds like Woody Woodpecker." — Leo Kottke Along the way The 2024 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, featuring a pair of cedar waxwings, is on sale now. Purchasing the stamp is an excellent way to support conservation of the state's diverse wildlife. Each year, a contest is held to choose a photograph of one of Ohio's native wildlife species. This year's winner was taken by Roni Leatherman of Rittman, Ohio. His subject was a cedar waxwing, a migratory bird known for its affinity for berries and for their high-pitched call. For $15, Legacy Stamp purchasers receive a collectible stamp, sticker, and commemorative card. Stamp holders can also receive discounts on stays at nine state park lodges. All of the stamp's proceeds go to wildlife conservation, with most benefitting species of greatest conservation need through the Wildlife Diversity Fund. To purchase a stamp, visit www.wildohio.gov or https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/gifts-and-mechandise/wildlife-legacy-stamp. Step outside •Over $5 million is available to local communities and nonprofit organizations to preserve natural areas, protect streams, and create outdoor recreational opportunities. Applications for Green Space improvements under the Clean Ohio Round Fiscal Year 2025 program will be accepted April 15 to Aug. 8. Counties eligible include Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Logan, Mercer, Putnam, Shelby and Van Wert counties (District 13). Visit https://pwc.ohio.gov/Programs/Clean-Ohio-Application. Local representatives are: Hancock — Scott Butterworth, scott.butterworth@dnr.ohio.gov and Tim Brugeman, tbrugeman@woh.rr.com; Putnam — Jeff Giesige, giesige_jeff@yahoo.com •April 7: Trap Shoot. Traps open at noon, program at 1 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186. •April 13: Black Swamp Bucks Unlimited Annual Banquet and Fundraiser. Doors open 3 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m. The Cube, 3430 N Main St, Findlay. Tickets and sponsorships are now available and with a multitude of prizes including a Coleman Rubicon camper, Polaris Ranger 570 UTV, Coleman electric cart, Hawk tower tree stand, and others. Visit: www.blackswampbucks.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blackswampbucks. •April 16–May 21: Spring Trap League. Need a 5-person team to compete. Program begins at 5 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. Public welcome. Contact: Sandy Thomas, sandthm@aol.com. •April 27: Homegrown Habitat Event, University of Findlay. If you enjoy seeing wildlife, you likely know that habitat is the key to its survival. Event features Doug Tallamy, renowned author, native plant specialist, and conservationist. There'll be a resource fair, book sales, book signings, native plant sales, a presentation by Tallamy and exhibits. Winebrenner on the University of Findlay campus, 950 N. Main St., Findlay. Doors open at 9 a.m. Registration required, no ticket sales at the door. Cost: $25, $10 per student, includes breakfast and free take-home native plants. Registration deadline is April 19. Visit www.homegrownhabitat.org. Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com.