Four of a Kind!

  Occasionally, something on the Bayou triggers a moment of awe that compares to no other.  Of course, what I find fascinating might be quite boring to others but that is beside the point.  Still, I have to wonder how many people actually take notice of Mother Nature's realm.  Perhaps if folks took the time to really see things, they would be astounded as well.  For instance, today, I saw four woodpeckers! Granted a woodpecker is not the rarest of birds but the timing was perfect plus these woodpeckers make a point of staying deep in the woods.  I am talking of the Pileated Woodpecker! Mark and I had just finished our nice hike when I heard an unusual sound outside of my window.  I knew it was a bird and thought I recognized the call as that of the Pileated.  Ok!  Slip back into the shoes and grab the camera! Something told me that this was to be interesting!  

  Sure enough, the moment I stepped outside the door, I felt the flutter of excitement!  Two Pileateds were in the tall pine about forty feet away! Wow!  I usually only see a single Pileated.  I slipped a bit closer. Double wow!  Three Pileated Woodpeckers in the same tree was not something that I have ever seen! Then another bird flew into the tree.  Four!  Four Pileated Woodpeckers were in the pine.  I was right near ecstatic at this point!  I called to Mark.  He had to see this!   

  Having four woodpeckers in the same tree might not seem like a great deal to others but it made my day.  The exhilaration of seeing that fourth bird fly into the tree was a bit surreal in my mundane life. You see, I find my enjoyment out in nature. When something a bit unusual occurs, it interests me.  Since Pileated Woodpeckers are monogamous, the sighting of four together was rare indeed.  These are highly territorial birds so having them all converge on one tree is a bit of an oddity.  To have this happen right outside my front door even made it better!  I just wish I could have gotten all four in the photograph.  One seemed to be a bit camera shy and kept skittering around to the other side of the tree.