Thursday, April 9, 2009

Who did this?

I'm pretty sure this is a woodpecker's handiwork. I'm thinking it's probably from the Pileated Woodpecker. What do you think? I'll be going on a "stake out" with my new camera lens in hopes of capturing whichever bird did this.

P.S. I got a Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 lens. I'm so excited! Does anyone else have this lens and any tips for me?

40 comments:

troutbirder said...

No doubt about it. It's Mr. Pileated. Probably looking for carpenter ants. There might be a safety issue here if the tree is close to a house.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Shelly: I think you must have a flock of woodpeckers to do this much. I have never see holes tis big. Bob and wife could make a nest in there.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Yowza!! Can't wait to see what you do with that lens.

NCmountainwoman said...

No doubt about it. Most (if not all) of the holes were made by Pileateds. The large rectangular appearance is a dead giveaway.

Since you have more than one woodpecker variety, some of the holes could have been made by other woodpeckers, but most of them are definitely Pileated.

Wow! That is one powerful lens. Can't wait for pictures.

Montanagirl said...

Yup - a Woodpecker. Wow - the lens sounds great. I've never purchased a Sigma lens before. Go cruise around Amazon and see what the reviews say. Get busy with that baby and post some pics!

Peggy said...

YEP, THAT IS DEFINATELY THE PILEATED. The elongated holes are the dead giveaway! I used to own a Sigma 50-500mm. I don't know how heavy your lens is, but mine was a real load, and VERY slow focus. I am hoping you have more love for yours than I did with mine...Good luck with finding your pileated woodpecker!

Ginnymo said...

Wow! I love that tree!! Ha! Those woodpeckers sure work hard. Can't believe all those holes they made. I hear the Pileated but very seldom see him. When I do, he's so fast and hard to catch.
Have fun with your new lens. I only take pictures with a Point and shoot Sony DSC-H5. I'm jealous..LOL My next camera will be an SLR I hope. But I don't need much when I'm only taking them through my window. I'd love to have a zoom lens though. I might splurge on one. Then I could see deeper into the woods..!!

BirdBoy said...

ooooo I want that lens! My friend has the same technical aspects but its a tamron and she takes some nice shots. The 500 will be good if you want to shoot warblers and ducks. haha actually a 500 will be good to shoot pretty much anything. Have fun with it!

Samuel said...

It does look like a Pileated Woodpecker damage.

Jessica said...

Wow... that's amazing what a bird can do to a tree! Good luck finding him. I am so envious of your new lens. I know you are loving it! Have fun with all the new great bird photos you can capture with that.

Deborah Godin said...

Wooh! A pileated with an augur bill! That looks like more than just pecking for grubs?? Do they actually excavate nest holes? I had no idea!

Mary said...

Wow...I seem to remember they make rectangular holes. I hear the one that lives around here all the time, but it is quite a distance away.

The Retired One said...

That is definitely a Pileated's work!
We own an old storage building and a few years ago we pulled up to it to get something out of storage and there were THREE there doing their work on the rafters by the roof. We had HUGE holes in the building..but the birds were gorgeous!
Then I was working on my computer in the basement last week and heard some loud tapping and there he was...I ran to get my camera, and by the time I got out to take the photo, he was gone! Crap!
They are SO big and SO beautiful...I am hoping you catch him on camera!!! Good luck!
The Retirement Chronicles

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Great shot, Shelley, of the Woodpecker Tree!!!! We have a DEAD tree in the empty lot near our home --with alot of woodpecker holes in it... Seems like the Pileated have been busy at your place since the holes are SO big... Mercy!!!

I know nothing about your new lens--but I'm sure you'll figure it all out.

Hugs,
Betsy

Joy Tilton said...

Oh my! Do you have the Pileated Woodpecker there? It has to be a large bird to do that kind of damage. I hope they don't find your house...

Kelly said...

Oh, man...total lens envy here! I can't wait to see your new photos. Looks like a manic Pileated to me!

Patsy said...

I have only seen a pileated woodpecker one time when we lived in the woods in East Texas. Can't wait to see your pictures.
Patsy

Ms. ~K said...

Yep, I recognize the Pileated handiwork...They can be very destructive, but I love seeing/hearing them fly through our woods, like a Pterodactyl!!!
Can't wait to see pictures using your new lens.
Kit

sandy said...

Wow, look at that....Glad I don't have those kind of birds in my yard. I wouldn't want my poor tree to be all full of holes. Congrats on the new lens.

Eve said...

Wow that is some handiwork...billiework...what ever!
Pileated is my guess too! Great luck with the new lens...I'm sure you'll do fine with it!

Andrea said...

Definitely a Pileated Woodpecker. Good luck on the stake-out. I can't wait for the results.

BirdingMaine said...

No doubt Pileated Woodpecker holes. oblong holes are a dead giveaway.

WOW, that's some lens! If it is not image stabilized, set it up on a tripod when getting up around the 400-500 mm range. Any movement by you, no matter how little, will be magnified greatly in your images.

Wildflowerhouse said...

Remember dear Shelley we both live in log homes!!!!LOL Great photo. Sharon. PS thanks for the vote!!

Kim said...

Yup definately the work of a pilieated! So cool.

Your new lens sounds great! Cant' wait to see the pictures.

Tina said...

Wowee those are some major nest holes..tough on that ole tree tho..

Can't wait to see what you catch with that 500mm!!
Sounds pretty cool!

Anonymous said...

First congrats on the new lens! Hope it all goes well!

We have the prehistoric looking Pileated here too but we also have damage causing flickers. THEY haved ruined a couple of trees. But I agree with everyone else. The PW. Do you have flickers in your area?

Montanagirl said...

Shelly: Hello again. I just went to Amazon and looked at a whole bunch of their reviews on the Sigma 150-500 lens. Most of them seem to be pretty positive, and that it's a pretty good lens for the money. Please keep us posted on how you like it. I've been contemplating replacing my Canon 100-400 (which I dropped & had repaired, but doesn't seem quite right in the head anymore). Maybe for the price difference, I'd be willing to try the Sigma 150-500 too. The powers that be say that if you do bird photography, you really do need the 500mm reach. Let me know...

Andy said...

I was going to say the same as BirdingMaine.

Use a good tripod, especially at the long end.

The Birdlady said...

That woodpecker must have a headache! I had the Sigma 50 - 500 for several years, and loved it! Wonderful glass.

Leedra said...

Looks like a chain saw bandit to me. Is he building a condo complex there?

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Ruth's Photo Blog said...

You lucky girl.I have seen pictures done with a lens like that and they were amazing.Have fun!
Blessings,Ruth

Heather said...

Oooo, I am VERY jealous of your new lens. Can't offer any input on it, but I can't wait to see what you do with it!

Lanny said...

Those are some holes!

Anonymous said...

I have a Sigma 170mm-500mm lens and I often keep the ISO at 400 to allow for a faster shutter speed. Since my lens doesn't let a lot of light in, I often will increase the exposure compensation too. Overall, for the price, they are a great lens.

Sue said...

I love visiting your sites! A new lens can't possibly take better pictures than you already take.

Enjoy the lens and keep bringing us those beautiful photos. Sue

jalynn01 said...

Wowwee....I'd say pilated and if I had found those holes you would have to move my lawn chair to get me go to home!! I'd be camping out with weenies and marshmallows until I got him!

Connie said...

Wow, that's a lot of damage!!

Craig Glenn said...

I am going with woody too. I am sure if my mama saw it she would swear it was me... I sure stayed in trouble a lot. LOL

Craig Glenn

Anonymous said...

Great photo! Yes, it's a Pileated. You are very lucky to have them. We only get to see them on vacation in the mountains. They are amazing birds! I will look forward to your photo of one. I have tried, but they are very tough to photograph. They don't stay in one place very long -- at least the ones I've seen.

Willard said...

I hope you enjoy the new lens.

I have the discontinued 170-500mm which I bought in 1999. It worked well with my film cameras, but needs "re-chipped"(a computer chip in the lens controls the aperture) to work with my digital ones, so I don't use it anymore. It was definitely a good lens for the money. I never had the chip upgraded as I eventually got the Canon 500mmF4 and now it may be too late as I hear the do not re-chip discontinued lenses.

At any rate that will not be an issue in your case and it should work well for you.