Birds

Black Woodpecker: Officially a Nemesis

February 6, 2017 by Corey 12 Comments

I have never before had a true nemesis bird. Sure, occasionally a bird has given me problems, like Black-backed Woodpeckers back in 2007 when I was doing an alleged Big Year in New York State, but not seeing a bird for a single year does not make it a nemesis. But Black Woodpecker? Well, here is what I wrote about the worst woodpecker a couple of years ago:

This is a bird that has eluded me on two trips to Germany – both of which included exploring forests where they were supposed to be present –  and a trip to a region of Hungary where they are supposed to be common…Whenever I get to Europe again this will be my most-wanted bird. And if I dip again? Well, that doesn’t even bear thinking about. I better not miss this bird again.

Yet, here I am, back from Austria, minus one Black Woodpecker sighting. It’s not that I didn’t try. It’s not that I didn’t have help. It’s not that I wasn’t in the right spot. There is only one possible reason that Black Woodpecker has once again eluded my eyes. Black Woodpecker is officially a capital-N-Nemesis-capital-B-Bird.

What happened? We were in proper habitat several times. The first few times there was neither sighting nor any indication that a Black Woodpecker was around. But on Saturday morning, 4 February, we were visiting an Austrian castle high on a forested hill outside of Bregenz. We were officially there for Wallcreeper and that search was easily successful despite our group having several birders who had never seen this stunning creature.

But, before I continue, I should note who the “we” in this group was. We were the American and Chinese contingent of birders who had just completed a trip with Swarovski and, who for lack of better travel options, had stayed on a bit longer than the rest of group. We had Jeff Gordon, the President of the American Birding Association; Bill Thompson III, Editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest; Sharon Stiteler, the Birdchick; Jessie Barry and Chris Wood from the eminent Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Clay Taylor of Swarovki Optik North America; Samson So, Hong Kong birder extraordinaire and founder of the Eco Insitute; Terry Townshend of Birding Beijing, another great birder; and our guide for the day, the estimable Austrian birder Leander Khil.

It was getting near the end of our time at the castle and I had spent most of my time with the Wallcreeper. I was sad a Black Woodpecker hadn’t been sighted but I wasn’t surprised. After all, neither Bill nor Jeff had ever seen one before despite having each birded in Europe more than I had. (Which, perhaps was part of the reason we were missing them. Get three people together to try to see a good bird that none of them had seen despite multiple attempts and the endeavor might be doomed to failure.)

Then Chris yelled to us that he had just seen one flying deeper into the forest. I ran to catch up but the bird had disappeared. As a group we searched, played tape, and did everything we could think of to conjure the woodpecker back into the open with no luck. Bill briefly heard it call from deep in the woods but it never showed. Instead, once again, I was left with evidence that the Black Woodpecker left behind like the one at the top of this post and the one below.

I don’t know when I will get to Europe again but look forward to the day that I get back, deep into a forest, and see the mythical creature that is a Black Woodpecker.  I can picture its gorgeous red-topped head on a black body and the strong bill. I will meet its pale, staring eye with my own two eyes and there will be a connection between the two of us. And then, in that perfect, peaceful moment, I will raise my hand, making sure the bird can see it clearly, and I will extend my middle finger high. Because I hate Black Woodpeckers if they do, in fact, exist. I hate them with the passion of twenty burning suns. It is not right what they have done to me and I will have my revenge. Mwa-hahahahahahaha!

Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.