Did you ever see a bird on the back of a raccoon? We saw this amazing sight in our own backyard!
The brave little bird is a Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens). Downy is the smallest woodpecker in North America. Piculets are smaller and live on several other continents. Downy is 5.5 – 7.1 inches (14-18 cm) long and weighs 0.71 – 1.16 ounces (20-33 g). The wingspan ranges from 9.8 – 12.2 inches (25-31 cm).
Downy is excavating a winter nest in our maple tree. Although a bit shy, we watched from our kitchen window as the bird’s beak redirected saw dust out of the perfectly round 2.0 inches (5 cm) hole. We hadn’t seen this little bird around during the summer months. Summer nesting grounds can be in Canada, as Downy woodpeckers range from Alaska to Florida. Insects, seeds and berries are the typical summer fare. In winter, they can be found in backyards like ours, dining at nearby feeders containing suet and shelled nuts.
Why is there a raccoon in our story? In 2018, our beautiful maple tree was dying. We suspected as much when the arborist delivered the sad news. This tree had provided patio shade and homes for nesting birds in summer.
Autumn leaves in oranges accentuated with golds made late afternoons seem warmer. Sharing so many memories with this tree made it impossible for us to cut it down. We hired a local tree sculptor and gave it a new life.
The sculpture theme is “Our Backyard”. Many of our backyard creatures are represented in the tree sculpture, including a raccoon. The woodpecker’s hole is in the middle of the raccoon’s back.
When we travel the world, we see many wonders. Amazement awaits us in our own backyard.
Two Who Trek 