Someone's knocking

  Is it springtime?  While I realize that I am pushing the envelope on this, today sure was doing a great imitation of a spring day.  The sun was shining, the weather was warm, the birds were singing....and I headed outside to the garden.  Son and I planted pear trees and fig trees!  Then I refurbished some of the planter boxes and transplanted a few of the never-dying Bell Pepper plants.  While the cool weather burned back some of the leaves, the stalks and root systems are still healthy.  By not waiting on seeds to sprout, I can have peppers far earlier this spring. The boxes for tomatoes and squash sit ready for seeding and this task will be completed early this coming week.  Yep, it sure feels like spring.....and yep, I sure am hurrying things.  That "Easter freeze" that was a stern warning from Mom to Pop when he rushed things is bound to nip my ideas in the bud.  

  While we were out in the garden, I heard someone else that was pushing for spring.  Off to the north near the creekbed, a familiar knocking came resonating up the hillside.  The Pileated Woodpecker was rapping on the side of a tall dead pine tree.  "Drumming" is more the proper term to the action of the bird.  Why do woodpeckers drum, you may ask?  Well, early in the spring, this could possibly be two things. One, the bird is claiming territory.  When a woodpecker can drum a strong, repetitive pattern and tempo, other birds hunting a nest site might reconsider.  Also, the drumming is a way of attracting a mate. Each type of woodpecker has an unique pattern to their drumming. Other birds hear the drumming, distinguish the species and may consider the drummer as a potential mate.  A strong drumming is only produced by a healthy, vibrant bird or, in other words, a good mate.

  This early morning drumming by the Pileated Woodpecker gave me hope that the birds will nest nearby again this spring.  The bird doing the drumming seemed to be a young bird (by the coloring).  If a stronger, more dominant male claims the territory, this bird will go deeper into the creek area to find a possible nest site and mate.  As with most in nature, the stronger critters lay claim to the best sites and the best food areas. The youngsters have to mature into their dominance stature before rousting some of the older folks.

  So...with someone knocking and hurrying the season, I figure spring must be drawing nigh.  Perhaps the garden will be fine.