Monthly Archives: December 2016

Birds Behaving Badly! Pileated Woodpecker Fight

December 30, 2016Year 3MN North: Amityrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Why can’t we Northland residents just be friends?!

Yesterday Mr. Snowy Owl and some crows had a fight. Today it was Madam Pileated Woodpecker and a Red Squirrel having an altercation over who belonged in a certain tree. If anyone thinks taking photographs like this one are easy, they’re not! I watched this Pileated Woodpecker for over 1/2 hour in the 20F conditions. I had to first find a bird, and then slowly work my way closer without spooking the woodpecker. 99% of my visit with this bird was boring, but then bang!

View a video and images of the Crows attacking the Snowy Owl in yesterday’s post.

Pileated Woodpecker Wings

Crow Attacking Snowy Owl at Dawn (video)

December 29, 2016Year 3WI North: Richard Bong Airportrichardhoeg@gmail.com

20 minutes before sunrise, I found my first Snowy Owl of the winter! A few minutes after sunrise, the local crow population also discovered Snowy. However, the male owl defended himself well, and refused to be forced off his perch. Thus, I had a fantastic time early this morning and spent 1 & 1/2 hours with this cool bird. I hope you enjoy a few of my photos, plus the video. In total I took 416 images this morning. Hopefully this Snowy will establish a winter territory where I found it … which would mean over two months of Snowy Owl watching / enjoyment.

The short video of the crows attacking the Snowy Owl is at the bottom of the post.

Attack!