I was walking through our middle woods, looking for Sugar Maple trees to tap for the upcoming sugaring season. I heard a loud cry overhead and looked up to see a large bird flying through the woods. The bird landed on the side of a nearby tree and was immediately recognizable by its large, red-tufted head. It was a Pileated Woodpecker. These large woodpeckers are known for creating distinctive oblong holes in trees while looking for insects. The woodpeckers will often create several holes near one another or join them together, creating nesting cavities for other birds. Sure enough, inspecting some of the trees I came across several oblong holes.
The holes are a sign of the life cycle of a forest. Trees grow, mature, and succumb to disease and insects. Other animals prey on those insects, creating homes for other animals. The dying tree becomes a host to mushrooms. These forces further weaken the tree. A windstorm will finally bring the seemingly immovable tree down, and the tree will decay back into the soil, providing nutrients for another cycle. Each cycle can take well over 100 years, moving slowly but surely as we rush around in our busy lives.
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