Earlier this month, part of a sycamore tree (Platanus occidentalis) came down in a storm. Normally, that would only be something to take note of and move on. But, I happened to spend a few afternoons in May looking at this particular tree. When I would pass it on the trail, I’d notice the call of a red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). After several days of hearing the bird in the same spot, I finally saw the bird high up on the tree.
The next time I was in that spot I saw the bird inside a hole in the trunk. For many days, I would pass by the tree and look for the woodpecker. There was a nest in that hole. I wondered if I would be able to see any young woodpeckers. I was lucky one day and saw both the male and female going in and out of the hole, probably tending to the little ones inside.
Ever since those few weeks, I always looked at the tree, wondering if the little woodpeckers made it out of their nest. Their parents were so attentive. I hoped a predator didn’t get them. So, I was a little sad when I saw that part of the tree had fallen down. The part that had the hole where the woodpeckers had a home this summer.
