Tweets, If anyone is interested in a photogenic Pileated Woodpecker family,
there's a nest site in Tenino that is putting on a good show these days.
There are at least three eager young birds sticking their heads out of the
cavity at feeding time. I'd guess in a week or so they'll be fledged.
Access: From "downtown" eastward on SR507 (toward Rainier/Yelm); on
outskirts of town turn right at Churchill(/Mull) and park at the paved
"rail-to-trail." Walk about 1/4 mi just beyond the huge dead cottonwood to
get a side view. The nest is on one of the main trunks on the right-hand
side. For a head-on view, proceed 100 ft further up Churchill, enter the
signposted "Heernet" conservation property via the logging road, and at the
mill pond follow the trail toward the snag tree or out along the shoreline
opposite the tree. The nest hole should be obvious on the left-hand side,
about 1/2 to 2/3 way up. These birds are so cute even my nonbirder wife
loved them! Good birding!
-- Paul Hicks / Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace.org