~ Anne Kilgannon
As the Red-shafted Northern Flicker balances on my fence, alternately eyeing me peering at him from my kitchen window and yet keeping a sharp watch on the dangling suet feeder, he must make a calculated decision. Although easily the largest bird that comes to my feeder, he is often the most skittish. But the noisy chickadees are busy elsewhere and, so far as I can tell, the feeder is all his for the taking. I do understand his nervousness; after all, once he makes his choice, he must contort himself to both cling to the suet holder and stretch his beak in an awkward arc to dig into his prize. But it’s worth the risk—bang—the feeder swings into the window and then bang again as he flaps off with his morsel.
The Flicker, despite all his hesitations and noisy drama, is a regular at my suet feeder. For me, if I should see a Downy Woodpecker quietly, stealthily, approach the feeder, taking his cues from the other small birds that all is well, as he emerges from the line of rhododendron bushes, I immediately stand very still and try to fade into an inoffensive shadow so he will feel secure enough to enjoy a treat. His appearance is rare and therefore special.
Other than fleeting glances at fast-moving Pileated Woodpeckers on rare occasions and the rows of punctuated evidence of sapsuckers, these were my only experiences with this fascinating family of birds. Paul Bannick has, then, laid out a feast of stunning photographs of all the variations, sizes, colors, beak shapes, incredible toes, and startling ringed eyes that I was only vaguely aware existed. Page after page of this large sized book is a gift of revelation and discovery. He has traveled the continent to bring these images to his readers, from deep woods to deserts, Bannick has made himself blend into the landscape, early morning until dark, spring to winter snows, to capture these precious glimpses of the wonderful variety of woodpecker life.
Courtship, homemaking, keeping up with the gaping beaks of hungry young, fledging and possible migration fill the year’s round. The tool for which they are most famous, their hammer-like beaks, are just the most obvious; their toes—three or four—are another crucial feature to understand. Their tails can act as wedges and balancing mechanisms. But their tongues! Whether barbed, soft or some other variation useful for scooping up delectable bits, their length and how they can wrap around the bird’s brain to soften the impact of all their hammering is an evolutionary miracle. A marvel that surpasses everything.
A reader can get lost marveling in this superb collection of photographs, however, and that would be a rich experience enough, but reading Bannick’s carefully composed text opens our understanding of these birds—that is the real point. He explains that woodpeckers are both keystone species and umbrella species. He identifies them as “the heartbeat of the forest,” the agents of transformation. “Forests need them… woodpecker health is the measure and maker of forest health.” He notes that woodpeckers are an indicator species because their needs are so particular. Their presence and activities also make it possible for other creatures to thrive: all those cavities can be repurposed as homes for a wide variety of beings; even the wood chips they let fly are useful to others. Their ability to “tap” trees in early spring allow hummingbirds to feed while they wait the flowering of other plants. I’m just skimming the surface here of the contributions of woodpeckers as he describes them. I certainly gleaned a much greater –and deeper—appreciation for these remarkable birds as I slowly turned the pages of this impressive book, entranced by the photographs and enlightened by his words. I also want to note his sensitivity helping readers new to his subject; when he uses a technical word or phrase, he always includes a quick definition, so no one is left behind. He doesn’t flaunt his expertise; he uses it as stepping-stone for the rest of us.
I’ll give you one example of his prose to draw you in: “…woodpeckers are perhaps the most important living catalyst in creating forest diversity, and many iconic forest organisms could not be a part of the assemblage without their presence. Woodpeckers fill such a vital role in ecosystems that they radiated and adapted to most parts of the world and to various niches, and in turn many other animals and insects evolved to take advantage of their work.” Bannick’s affection for these birds is contagious, more importantly, also his respect and admiration.
So next time the flicker bangs my feeder into the window and spews seeds everywhere, I will just be glad that he is feeding the ground-feeding birds as well. Part of the job!
