The last thing Jeff said to Jeannette and I when we left the trade show on Sunday, was “I guarantee it!” As in guaranteeing that we would see Red-cockaded Woodpeckers on the next morning. Jeff reiterated this guarantee multiple times, despite our insistence that he stop trying to jinx us. There’s no guarantees in birding!

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are an Endangered species that inhabits that pine forests of the southeastern US. Intense management, using selective logging, and especially prescribed burning, has saved this species from further declines and possible extinction. Now, most are found on land managed specifically for them, especially military bases and other federal lands. Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, not far from Macon, is one such place, and this was where we began the leisure half of our trip on Monday morning.

A refuge employee we spoke to over the phone directed us to an active colony that was alongside of a road, so easy to find before dawn. In theory, anyway. See, in winter, the Woodpeckers can be a challenge to find. They disperse from their colony widely, and are usually silent. Talking about a needle in a haystack! However, just after dawn, the birds leave their roost holes and vocalize and socialize actively before dispersing. Therefore, is you arrive before they disperse, you can be in place to observe their antics.

We followed the directions, parking “just beyond the bridge,” and looking into the woods on our right. Active roost holes are marked with a white ring of paint, and the woodpeckers drill wells of sap (producing huge splotches of white around their holes), further helping to identify the trees. The problem was, we couldn’t see any white paint – or sap!

In fact, we couldn’t see much at all. It was cloudy, and we were there a half hour before sunrise. As sunrise approached, we began to worry. Where was the colony? Was it just deeper into the woods, and therefore we couldn’t see the rings? Where we in the right place?

We walked up and down the road. Maybe he said BEFORE the bridge? 7:37. Sunrise. No birds. If we were nearby, we would surely hear them, right? Even if we weren’t at the exact spot? Did we blow it? (I was waiting for Jeannette’s “This is why I don’t chase birds quip.”

7:40 – white rings! A bunch of them! And fresh sap! We found the colony. I’m not sure I would of called it “just past the bridge,” but the bridge was certainly in sight – but we hadn’t walked quite this far on our first scouting stroll. But, no birds. A woodpecker flies overhead, silent. Oh no! Was that one? The last one of the morning? Did we miss it? It was incredibly warm for the season – do they leave earlier when it’s warm?

7:47. No birds. Has it only been 10 minutes since sunrise, it had felt like forever? We must have missed them. Jeff jinxed us! (We had to blame someone!). The drama of the morning was rapidly becoming the trauma of the morning.

A cacophony of squeaks sounding like one of Sasha’s toys erupts from the top of a pine. Is that them? No, of course, those were Brown-headed Nuthatches; hadn’t heard them in a while.

7:49. OK, now what? I guess we start looking for silent needles in a very big haystack? No, we need to wait longer. Do they sleep in when it’s cloudy? How long did Jeff suggest we wait? I mean, it’s only been 12 minutes since sunrise, although it seemed much, much longer. We need to be patient, right?

7:50. What was that sound? Certainly haven’t heard that before. Definitely not the Nuthatches this time, right? Then another. A single note, both sharp and squeaky at the same time, but sort of nasally, too. Kind of like a sapsucker with a cold. A bird darts out of a cavity. Another call, then another, and another. Woodpeckers darted from holes, but in the shadow of the dark pine woods, we see nothing more than dark blobs.

The calls are more distant now. Are they moving away? Are they gone? Did we miss the show? Were we standing too close? Did we bother them? Did Jeff’s guarantee bother them?

Then, on a tree in the background of the colony, we spy one. Then two more join it. Three together on the trunk – all in one scope view! Success! (We’ll apologize to Jeff for blaming him).

Similar in size and color to our familiar Hairy Woodpecker (just a little smaller), but white cheeks and hindneck, except for a thin black line on the very back of the neck. Bold black and white, horizontal stripes on the entire back. Barred and spotted flanks and sides. A life bird for both of us – a rare occurrence indeed!

After about 20 minutes, the calling ended as abruptly as it began, as the birds melted into the woods along with a mixed feeding flock that included Brown-headed Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, a few Golden- and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Blue-headed Vireo, Downy Woodpeckers, and a few Pine Warblers. Now that we had seen our target for the morning, we were even able to enjoy these birds!

A 3-mile loop trail provided a relaxing stroll, and was quite productive for birds. More of the above was seen, in scattered pockets of activity as we encountered a mixed species flock. A few other birds were seen, including pockets of White-throated Sparrows and a flock of well over 100 Chipping Sparrows.

By the time we had finished the loop, we had tallied 7 species of woodpeckers! In addition to the aforementioned – and nerve-wracking – Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, we saw a number of Downy, Red-bellied, Pileated, Hairy, a couple of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and one snazzy Red-headed Woodpecker.

The afternoon was spent driving to Savannah, and enjoying a beautiful, warm evening in this wonderful little city. The only avian highlight of note, however, were two Northern Flickers, calling from across the river – our 8th species of woodpecker of the day!

Part II tomorrow, and photos shortly . . .