March 23, 2015: The Paul Bannick Woodpecker event was a big hit!

Paul brought his woodpecker slide show to ABC and tantalized us with glimpses of his upcoming works on Owls as well. He had his new book, Woodpeckers of North America, written with David Benson, as well as his famous book, The Owl and the Woodpecker, for sale to the enthusiastic ABC crowd.

Paul started off the evening by showing us some slides he just took yesterday far east of here of Short-Eared Owls’ courtship behaviors. Stunning stuff, and new info to some of us, such as their different vocalizations during courtship, as well as their stunning aerial displays.

Only a person who has stalked so many woodpeckers with his camera on hands and knees asl well as lift mechanisms could have such personal insights into these woodpeckers. Paul knows every kind of hole every woodpecker employs, every kind of tree, every behavior, even pounds per square inch of drilling power.

A woodpecker hole can later house up to 30 different types of birds needing cavities (including many of the small owls), but are unable to drill their own holes. Other critters use the holes as well, and Paul showed reintroduced Fishers who will use the bigger holes.

It was interesting to have a dialog between ABC’ers and Paul about this winter’s interesting incursion of Acorn Woodpeckers into the state, especially into the Lakewood area of Pierce County. We’ll all be watching what happens with this species in the state.

Visit Paul’s website at: http://www.paulbannick.com/

Below: Paul talks about Flickers and then signs books for us. (Click to enlarge)