The Red-cockaded Woodpecker
by Jurgen Lorenzen
Title
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Artist
Jurgen Lorenzen
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Last spring I finally found an active nest cavity of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker at Ochlockonee River State Park near Sopchoppy, Florida. The entrance to the nest cavity is surrounded by tiny holes from which sticky resin oozes out, protecting the nest from climbing predators.
This small Woodpecker was once fairly common in the southeastern United States, but is now rare, local, and considered an endangered species. It requires precise conditions within mature pine forest, a habitat that is now scarce. It lives in isolated clans, each clan an extended family group, with one pair of adults assisted in their nesting by up to four additional birds. The red cockade for which the bird is named, a small patch of feathers behind the eye of the male, is usually hard to see in the field.
This woodpecker has disappeared from many areas of former occurrence, with ongoing decline documented in several regions. Total population perhaps under 10,000, many of these in isolated groups facing local extinction. Causes for decline include suppression of natural fires and over-cutting of pine forest in southeast.
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November 14th, 2023
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Comments (25)
Steve Rich
Your work deserves to be showcased on the homepage of "The Meandering Photographer" Please consider adding this work to the "Feature History, The Meandering Photographer (Oct-Nov 2023)" active discussion thread. (l/f on 11-28-2023)
Karen Slagle
Fantastic woodpecker and image, Jurgen. These guys are so difficult to photograph because they are so wary...f/l
Greta Foose
Wonderful find and capture of this now endangered woodpecker, thank you for sharing the information.
HH Photography of Florida
What a great capture of this woodpecker, Jurgen. This little fella is a new one on me. Great description too. L/fv
Rick Davis
Jurgen...You got a super photo of the woodpecker and love how the sky looks to the side! Fav
Ann Pride
Congratulations Jurgen on a rare capture.Hopefully their decline will stop and things will right themselves. I am curious about why he doesn't have red feathers on his head though.
Jurgen Lorenzen replied:
Thank you very much, Ann! The male has a very small red spot behind the ear which rarely shows.
Tina M Powell
Jurgen, I am in awe of this amazing capture and your dedication to find this gorgeous little bird! Stunning details and clarity with perfect lighting! Love this image. L/F
Jennifer White
Congratulations your beautiful photo has been featured in the Florida - Art Of The Sunshine State. You are invited to post your featured image in the featured image discussion thread as a permanent place to continue to get exposure even after the image is no longer on the Home Page.
Jurgen Lorenzen
Kathi, thank you so much for the feature in the group SHOWCASING THE SOUTH AND MID ATLANTIC!
Michelle Tinger
It is so sad to think of this beautiful bird on the brink of extinction. Terrific capture of it.
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