Gila Woodpecker

A Gila Woodpecker tends to a nest cavity in a Saguaro Cactus - McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Arizona.
Gila Woodpeckers sometimes reuse their nest cavity, but often build a new one. This seems to be inefficient, but you know what is really cool; their old cavities are used by all kinds of birds and even snakes - animals that aren’t able to dig their own cavity. It is just one of the millions of little things that constantly amazes me about nature. Every creature plays a role in our world.
Saturday we returned to Anza Borrego. Janine has some family business in OC, and I thought this seemed like a good place to spend a few more days before returning back to Alaska.













April 20th, 2008 at 10:04 am
really unique bird portrait Ron. it must be really hot out there I bet.
April 20th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Thanks Richard. There is a bit of a cold front passing through, or it would be really hot!
Ron
April 21st, 2008 at 10:33 am
hers Turkish name is A?AÇKAKAN.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:38 am
Thanks ÖZGÜR!
Ron
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hey Ron,
Nice. you always seem able to wonder in to someplace and grab great images. I find a bird nest the other day, and it’s buried in a grove of trees so thick it’s impossible to shoot. You get stuff like this! Great clean image.
Cheers
Carl
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Hey thanks a lot Carl!
These guys are a lot easier to photograph then any bird in the boreal forest that’s for sure. It is much more difficult where you are.
Thanks,
Ron
April 24th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Isn’t this truly a cactipecker?
April 24th, 2008 at 6:47 am
That is funny Mark!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Nice one Ron. I’m really digging the lines of the cactus … some great natural composition going on.