Rare Sighting of a Charismatic Avian Resident at Lake James
A red-headed woodpecker was spotted last week by Friends of Lake James board member Annette Bryant.
Recent sightings of a couple of red-headed woodpeckers have visitors and park staff excited.
Red-headed woodpeckers, it would seem, have established a home at Lake James State Park since controlled burns began several years ago.
A Little About Red-headed Woodpeckers
One of the more charismatic birds in our corner of Appalachia, red-headed woodpeckers are known for their active seasonal movements (migrating to moderate elevations during the summer months). Their habitual shifts make spotting them difficult, even for the most dedicated birder.
They are far more common in the coastal plains and Piedmont due to a preference for lower elevations. So, while red-headed woodpeckers are permanent residents of the Tar Heel State, we usually only see them during the summer months in Appalachian North Carolina.
A squirrel and red-headed woodpecker reaping the benefits of a recent controlled burn at Lake James State Park in June 2024. (Annette Bryant)
Once spread throughout eastern North America, the red-headed woodpecker is now uncommon, according to the Audobon Society.
In the past century, red-headed woodpeckers have been crowded out by European starlings competing for tree cavities. Starlings are cavity-nesters, meaning they can’t excavate their own holes, so they steal them from woodpeckers who nest in bare dead trees or limbs, from a few feet to 65’ or higher.
Red-headed woodpecker populations had been in decline for several decades due to habitat loss and reduced food supplies. Fortunately, their conservation status moved to “least concern” in 2018.
If you want to spot one, your best chances are near:
Open stands of mature pine trees (particularly longleaf pines)
Mature groves of hardwoods
Areas containing many dead or dying trees, also known as “snags”
Beaver ponds
Red-headed woodpeckers are one of many woodpeckers with red markings on their head, but are the only ones with a solid red head. You’ll encounter red-bellied woodpeckers, yellow-bellied Woodpeckers, hairy and downy woodpeckers, and the fascinating piliated woodpecker in Lake James State Park.
The downey is the smallest while the piliated is the largest of these beautiful birds.
The red-headed woodpecker is a medium-sized bird with male and female markings the same. Their call is soft and similar to other area birds, unlike the distinctive call of the piliated woodpecker, which includes high-pitched piping, loud shrieks, and drumming.
The Benefits of Controlled Burns
Controlled burns are conducted under strict guidelines that allow for the removal of forest floor fuel while protecting trees and bushes. You may have noticed one of these areas near the Lake James Visitor Center at Paddy’s Creek.
Also known as prescribed burns, controlled burns intentionally set fires that are carefully planned and executed to achieve management objectives. They are often used in forest management, ecological restoration, land clearing, and wildfire fuel management. Controlled burns can also improve plant and animal habitats, reduce wildfire hazards, and control plant diseases.
“Controlled burns help prevent extreme wildfire events,” explains Park Ranger Jenny Hughes. “They also promote greater biodiversity by reducing overcrowding of some plant species so that new ones have a chance to grow. In our region, animals such as deer and turkey benefit significantly from prescribed burns.”
After several years of controlled burns in the park, the results are encouraging.
We’re encountering flora we have not seen in many years; increasing numbers of fauna are popping up in these cleared areas. And their thriving.
So, the next time you visit Lake James State Park this summer, and find yourself hiking through a grove of mature hardwoods or a recently burned-over area, look up! You just might spot one of our most magnetic avian residents.