Working from home since March 2020 has had some good nature experiences to enjoy. Last spring I was a bit too agitated to pay attention to what was occurring outside, just got the bird feeders out in the morning and in for the evening, which limits the raccoons ability to clean me out every day.

This spring was different, I stood for a moment to look at the different feeding stations I had in the yard before I put food out. I now have a year plus of keeping the same schedule, up by 6 am and feeders out about 6:30. It soon became apparent I had pretty observant woodpeckers, both hairys and downeys.

I use shepard’s hooks to put both suet and seed feeders on. And, if I got even 10 minutes late, I would find woodpeckers perched on top of the hooks looking (really) at the door I come out. Are they wondering where I am, are they worried about their first meal of the day, concerned about enough for their brood? All I know is that when the food arrives they spend plenty of time “enjoying” the meal.