Photographing Red-Headed Woodpeckers: Part 1
It was early September, and the weather had recently turned cool, resulting in a low fog hanging over the open fields. The sun had not come over the horizon yet, but the sky was turning pastel colors of pinks and oranges as it neared the sky. I was hiking out to an area of the forest that had been cut the previous year. The small patch of forest was transformed from a full canopy of mixed hardwood and conifer species, to a now open forest canopy with mainly large oaks remaining and standing tall.
Disturbances such as these are a necessary component to maintain the health and diversity of the forests in New England. Disturbance can come in the form of wind or ice storms, disease, or fire. These events remove trees from the canopy causing gaps to form and allowing light to once again reach the forest floor. As light hits the forest floor, shrubs and the next generation of trees to fill the forest can then rise and grow in the available light. When these disturbances do not occur, the forest becomes consistent throughout, with an enclosed canopy blocking much of the light below, resulting in an understory that is lacking in diversity and complexity. Forest succession is a topic for another time, but my point with mentioning this is that forests with a lack of disturbance are not great habitats for many species. Even if on face value, one would think, it’s a forest, it must be a good habitat. This is why when disturbances do not occur naturally, man-made disturbances in the form of logging, when done property, are excellent alternatives.
That is why I am headed out to this forest patch this morning. A year ago, this forest would have never sustained a small group of Red-headed Woodpeckers. This species prefers the open canopy and low understory following a disturbance in the forest. Somehow these birds appeared to know that this forest patch would fit their needs, and now they have arrived and are foraging on the mass of acorns that have fallen from the still standing oak trees.
These woodpeckers have been declining in much of their range even though they can be found across much of the entire eastern half of the United States west to Texas and North to Canada. They are now considered an endangered species in Connecticut and considered one of the rarest breeding birds in the state. One of the most commonly cited reason for their population decline is due to a lack of habitat. The open oak savannahs that these birds prefer, have since grown in when the settlers abandoned their farms in the 18 and early 1900s for promise of greener pastures out west. Now much of the forest is similar in age of about 100 years old and not suitable for this species to be found in.
Hiking in early morning is always a treat because you never know what you will find. In September, the bird songs have decreased or stopped altogether now that breeding has ended. But there is still the chatter of sparrows and common yellow-throated warblers calling in the grass and brush as I approach the clearing. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a black bear roaming through the forest. It is still nearly dark so the bear continued on toward the open field without noticing me.
The night before I was sure to check a map to see where it would be best to set up in the area with the sun rising relatively behind me. I put down my pack and got dressed in my camouflage clothing for added concealment and slowly crept forward to set up at the base of a still standing tree. My goal was to sit silently and wait to hear the call of the Red-headed woodpecker. With many birds, it is typically easier to locate them if you wait to listen for their call or song. Even though it is past breeding season, woodpeckers still commonly call as a form of communication. I planned on letting these calls guide me to their location, hopefully without disturbing them.
There is always a level of excitement when trying to photograph a new species, especially a species that is considered endangered in the state. At the same time, I was trying not to get my hopes up in case the group of woodpeckers had flown off in the night and moved on to a new area.
To be continued…
Talk soon,
Todd