Woodpecker – Damage to Dead Tree
Q: This is a small dead tree in our back yard. It looks like some kind of animal was trying to make shavings, shreds of tree lying at the base. Any ideas? I have lots of woodpeckers on my farm but I have never seen anything like this.
A: Amazing! This is certainly woodpecker damage.
Probably performed by a pileated woodpecker but it could also be done by a hairy woodpecker.
Either way, the bird was looking for termites or insects living in the dead tree trunk.