Woodpecker Condo – Day 550

Woodpecker Estate Condominiums – Photo: L. Weikel

Woodpecker Condo

Karl and I walk past this marvel of modern avian artistry every day we take our four mile walkabout. If it isn’t a woodpecker condo, straight out of Architectural Peckgest, I’ll eat it.

Situated on the edge of a verdant, deciduous forest that’s home to an eclectic community of multiple species of peckers of wood, these condos provide feathered up-and-comers easy access to both social diversity and the finest of country living.

Forested Back ‘Yard’

It’s true, the ‘back yard’ of the tony Woodpecker Estate Condominiums is a young forest, filled with an array of newly emancipated four-legged neighbors. Oppossums, raccoons, mice, squirrels, and foxes cast the prejudices of old to the wind, meeting and trading stories at the local watering hole known as ‘The Brook’ across Main Human Road. That’s not to be confused with the seedier but much more cavalier crowd that risks life and fur by gathering at the infamous ‘Cracked Culvert.’

Of course, those interested in the amenities offered by Woodpecker Estate Condominiums are subject to rigorous credit checks based upon grubs pecked per minute and other undisclosed but trustworthy assessments of pecker character. Feathers of recommendation from three non-related intra-species sponsors are also required for each applicant for residency.

Fields of Green

With the woods at our back, we can turn our attention away from the hustle and bustle of the four legged world of leaf and understory dwellers to the wild rompings of the deer in the Fields of Green that all forward-facing condo owners are privy. As amazing as the views are of the FoG, a caveat must be issued. Red-tailed hawks and other predators have been known to snag lesser peckers out of mid air when times were tough, and robins, red-winged blackbirds and mourning doves simply for sport.

While the picture windows located in the eastern facing condos have witnessed carnage in months gone by, the clean-up crews of black and turkey vultures have been working overtime to maintain the desirability of the neighborhood. We owe them a debt of gratitude – although they prefer a simple sacrifice now and again when times get lean. They have been known to frequent the back door of the Cracked Culvert.

This is one of the last condos of its kind in this area, so if you’re interested, you really should get pecking and submit your application today.

Robins have recently decided to turn their backs on us and move up the hill. We shan’t miss them, as they join bluebirds and red-winged black birds in their haughty attraction to the faux country adventures of horse pastures.

(T-561)