Subject: Re: Pileated Woodpecker Winter Roosts
Date: Oct 31 09:57:35 1995
From: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise - wlafra at oneworld.owt.com


>
>Bill and Nancy,
>
>Could you check your references to see where Pileated Woodpeckers
>go in the winter? They were nesting in my neighbor's yard but
>I haven't seen or heard one since late Sept.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Arlene
>Renton, WA
>
>
According to the Birder's Handbook by Paul Ehrlich, David Dobkin and Darryl
Wheye, Pileateds have year round territory and pair bonds. Male roosts in
nest cavity of previous years.

According to John Terres in the Encyclpedia of N Amer Birds, PIWO family
groups stay together at least to Sept then young move up to 20 mi away from
place of hatching. (Inplying adults stay around?)

Cavity Nesting Birds of NA Forests (USDA Publication) says that PIWO rarely
use the same hole over but will use the same tree. Since PIWO eat mainly
carpenter ants and beetles in the summer, in the fall they switch to dogwood
berries, acorns, and other wild fruit. (So maybe they didn't have adequate
fall food?)

Interesting that you asked this because we had read up on this bird in
Birding the San Juan Islands for our recent trip there and it states that
the bird is fairly common there but frequently undetected. ( Wonder if yours
is there but more silent now that it's fall? Or did it move a little away
from the nesting cavity in search of new fall food sources?)

Bill and nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com