Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I saw and heard my first pileated woodpecker on a small island in Maine.
The island is forested with majestic conifers, white birch, poplars, and maples. Scattered throughout this forest are dead conifers – some still standing tall and others lying flat on the floor. This mature forest provides the perfect habitat for a pileated woodpecker. Against this backdrop, one can hear a singular, persistent knocking sound as its beak penetrates deep into a rotting tree, locating carpenter ants and beetle larvae to feed upon.
This splendid species is the largest woodpecker in North America. It has a stunning, prominent, triangular red crest on its head; its body is mostly black with white stripes and a red stripe around its face. Like all woodpeckers, their skulls are adapted to withstand the pecking and to absorb the shock. Nesting sites are located inside rotted trees, and their foraging of insects serves to keep forest insect populations in check.
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What do you love about this particular creature?
What do they reveal to you about God and our faith?
The pecking of hollow trees resembles a loud door knocker. This dedicated avian soul, the pileated woodpecker, this bird of faith, is full of enthusiasm in the belief that there will be some point to all this pecking – possibly a nest of ants. What mysterious doors will I be knocking on? Will I approach the closed door with confidence that something good will be opened and something good will come?
The knocking reminds me of that beautiful round, Hymn 711.
Ask and it will be given to you
Seek and you will find
Knock and the door will be opened for you –
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
So, that knocking, that persistent knocking is a reminder of what might be the next steps in my spiritual path. Will I have the persistence, dedication and focus to stand up to that door? What am I asking for? What am I seeking? What do I need to open?
Author - Cathy Seibyl
Cathy Seibyl is a parishioner at Trinity Episcopal Church in Branford, Connecticut, and is involved in pastoral care and creation care ministries. I am part of the Province 1 EcoRegion.
O Creator God, you are known by your loving embrace of the undeserving and those who suffer: Grant us sight of your justice and conviction to love all creatures; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Creation Collect (Proper 21 Year C) from Season of Creation, A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes