Please watch this clip and see the ways,
I work so hard to try,
To feed myself in hungry days,
To make sure I don’t die.
The maple bark was way too clean,
It came apart with ease,
But nought was there for me to glean,
No breakfast bite to please.
I flitted to a nearby fir,
You see the different bark,
Its bumpy, roughness won’t deter,
My beak will find the mark.

Oh dear! I must take much more care,
To eat bugs ere they fly,
Right in my armpit, he did dare
To bite me. “Now you’ll die!”

Elusive little bug, you are,
But mind my bendy neck,
I’ll find you, and you won’t get far,
I’ll eat you with one peck.

Writing, travel, photography, nature, more writing....
February 18, 2026 at 1:11 am
It was great seeing your video with the trees all sporting leaves. Yes, they certainly do have to work hard for their food.
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February 18, 2026 at 8:11 am
At first I didn’t realize that this was a summer video, but I left it because the pecking for bugs doesn’t stop. They may go more for stumps now but no tree is ever safe around these guys.
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February 18, 2026 at 4:45 am
Like life, not all efforts produce desired results, yet we keep pecking! Loved the poem, Anneli. Great video, but I kept wondering if the bird’s head hurt after all that hammering.
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February 18, 2026 at 8:07 am
I looked that up one time, and they have that all figured out. I don’t remember the details but it seems nature has headache-proofed them.
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February 18, 2026 at 8:12 am
Interesting. I need to do that research, because when I peck away at the bugs drawn to the distractions of life, I come away with a headache. All kidding aside, I enjoyed today’s post.
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February 18, 2026 at 8:25 am
Thanks, Grant. I do think a lot of people wonder about all that hammering, but woodpeckers are built to withstand migraines. I think I need to go look that up again.
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February 18, 2026 at 4:47 am
Cute pileated poem Anneli. I love watching these birds work for their dinner, just not in my yard. Have a great Wednesday. Allan
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February 18, 2026 at 8:05 am
All my pileated woodpecker photos are taken in my own yard, but I can understand if you have a city lot, you can’t have the environment these birds need (like trees and rotten stumps). We left stumps here just for this reason. The woodpeckers love them.
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February 18, 2026 at 6:51 am
Ha! Just seeing him bend his neck into a pretzel hurt mine.
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February 18, 2026 at 8:29 am
I feel my neck cramping already. Amazing birds, aren’t they?
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February 18, 2026 at 7:02 am
A beautiful bird!
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February 18, 2026 at 8:00 am
I think so too; a real Woody Woodpecker bird.
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February 18, 2026 at 8:50 am
I love those cartoons!
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February 18, 2026 at 8:54 am
They were fun!
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February 18, 2026 at 8:59 am
Yes, just three or four channels to choose from, a bowl of cereal with toast and wearing my PJs. Life was perfect!
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February 18, 2026 at 11:23 am
Three or four?! We had one channel for years. But we didn’t complain.
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February 18, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Yes, ABC, NBC and CBS plus one UHF channel also out of Detroit. Today I have hundreds of channels and at times there isn’t anything I like!
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February 19, 2026 at 2:36 am
Same here, John. I’m in the UK. We have hundreds of channels, too. All are putting out rubbish or repeats. Things move from one channel to another, who then posts it as ‘new’ as it’s new to them, but it’s the same programme.
Cheers,
Vivienne
can’t be bothered to keep on logging in!
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February 19, 2026 at 6:25 am
Wow, that is exactly what happens here too! It’s a complete fib too. They label as new but I know darn well its not new.
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February 19, 2026 at 2:38 am
There were woodpeckers in the park behind our house, both green and spotted, but they’ve gone now. It’s such a pity.
Cheers
Vivienne
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February 19, 2026 at 6:28 am
They are such beautiful birds! I suppose they are in migration at this time. I have humming birds in my backyard all year which is nice. They always have two nectar feeders to choose from and two birdbaths. Some days my backyard is like a tiny airport. 🥰
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February 18, 2026 at 7:25 am
Happy feeding time, even if the bugs are scarce.
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February 18, 2026 at 7:59 am
They like the rotten stumps for that reason – more bugs in them.
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February 18, 2026 at 7:59 am
Great video and a nice poem to go with it. He has to work hard to get his food!
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February 18, 2026 at 8:00 am
That was me, Ursula
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February 18, 2026 at 8:27 am
Yes, he sure does. I love seeing them around our area.
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February 18, 2026 at 8:05 am
It always amazes me how they can pound the bark of the tree and not knock themselves out. Great pics and poem, Anneli. — Sonja
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February 18, 2026 at 8:21 am
Yes, I often wonder about that too. They would probably like an Aspirin once in a while.
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February 18, 2026 at 8:17 am
Fun!
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February 18, 2026 at 8:32 am
Thanks, Brad.
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February 18, 2026 at 10:56 am
Super photos and poem.
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February 18, 2026 at 11:22 am
Thanks, Carol. A bit of fun.
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February 18, 2026 at 11:57 am
Nice captures. I also love that moon shot on the header.
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February 18, 2026 at 12:55 pm
That moon photo was pure chance. We were sitting in the living room as it got light one morning and noticed the moon. I snapped a quick picture of it before the moon dropped behind the hills and the sun came up.
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February 18, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Wood peckers are amazing birds. You wrote a fun and beautiful nature poem and great photos.
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February 18, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Thanks, Thomas.
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February 18, 2026 at 2:11 pm
Who knew woodpeckers have armpits 🙂
Great video, poem and pics.
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February 18, 2026 at 3:17 pm
LOL I’m so glad he told us!
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February 19, 2026 at 10:15 am
Terrific woodpecker photos. They sure work hard to find a meal.
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February 19, 2026 at 10:28 am
My head aches just watching.
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February 21, 2026 at 6:14 am
😀
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