Certainly must be exciting. We've seen them a handful of times in various places in PA, but mostly in deep woods and forests in the northern tier counties. We've never seen a pair, though, only solitary birds. It would be really something if they established a nest on your property, wouldn't it. I've never heard a pileated's call, in fact I thought they were more or less mute, with their drumming being their main mode of territorial communication. So your observation is illuminating to me. We've found that we could get real close to these birds during several of our encounters with them. I can see how their movements would appear agitated, but comparing them with observations of other woodpecker species, I think their jerky and erratic movements, especially when foraging on tree trunks, are pretty characteristic of woodpeckers in general. Somehow I have always had the impression that woodpeckers are among the dimwits of the bird world. I can't explain why this seems so to me, exactly, but maybe it's because they seem so oblivious to my presence even when I have stood very near to them. I also have this notion that any creature that finds its sustenance by beating its head against oak and other hardwoods all day must have evolved in conjunction with a trend toward a minimal number of brain cells. I don't mean to diminish your admiration for the pileated by my less flattering observations - they just arose due to my questionable sense of humor. In fact, a pileated siting is a breathtaking occurence, in my opinion. There's something so uncanny in their physical appearance and bearing, and I always find myself wondering "How can this fantastic creature" - they do bring pteridactyls to mind, don't they? - "be inhabiting the twentieth millenium instead of prehistory?" Hope you see 'em again. By the way, what kind of habitat is around your property? Do you have a lot of old established trees or extensive woodlands? These are the only habitats in which I've ever seen them, and my sitings have always occurred well north of Bucks County. cranebill

Thank you all for the nice comments! I've been working on the photography, so it's nice to hear compliments. bandjzmom - I don't know if it's a territory issue or not. I am certain that we have nesting pileateds in our area as I see them all year long (but have yet to find a nest, darn it). So perhaps this is one of last year's young trying to find his place in the world. I just don't know. Thanks again!

Hah, thanks! Things are kind of slow on the feedercam right now. That's pretty typical for this time of year. Tons of activity while everyone is nesting in the spring, then once the chicks fledge, things quiet down in July and August. I haven't seen or heard any pileated woodpeckers for several weeks. It will pick up probably later next month, especially as we get closer to migration. -- Liz Bloomington, MN Backyard weather and feedercam: http://www.overlookcircle.org/ Photo gallery: http://www.pbase.com/gymell/liz_favorites Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lizmstanley

Oh how exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lucky you (i'm a bit jealous..lol)!!!!! I have lots of woodpeckers (downies, hairies, flickers and red-bellied) but have not seen a Pileated, which is what I want the most! Congratulations!!!! Oh, and tell your son that it is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy cool that his binoculars also have a compass!