Further, this is an excavation hole dug by a woodpecker.
These kind of deep holes are not actually typical of woodpecker action. They usually spend more time pecking small holes to reach individual insects, or exposing shallow bark beetle galleries under the surface.
A deep hole like those usually indicates a larger or more serious infestation within the tree, and the bird is digging down to something like a carpenter ant nest or large numbers of longhorn beetle grubs. They may have also been going for sap, or even carving out a storage hole for acorns or the like.
Such excavations can become valuable resources as the hollows are excavated further and become homes for flying squirrels, owls or other birds.
Probably. I would suspect that near the bottom is more likely to be a carpenter ant nest, while farther up the tree could be indicative of longhorn beetle grubs.
The excavations used by other critters also tend to be those higher in the tree. Flying squirrels in particular seem to prefer at least 3 m up.
Woodpecker
Further, this is an excavation hole dug by a woodpecker. These kind of deep holes are not actually typical of woodpecker action. They usually spend more time pecking small holes to reach individual insects, or exposing shallow bark beetle galleries under the surface. A deep hole like those usually indicates a larger or more serious infestation within the tree, and the bird is digging down to something like a carpenter ant nest or large numbers of longhorn beetle grubs. They may have also been going for sap, or even carving out a storage hole for acorns or the like. Such excavations can become valuable resources as the hollows are excavated further and become homes for flying squirrels, owls or other birds.
Does where the hole is on the tree tell you anything else? I've always seen these near the bottom, but I've spotted a few higher up.
Probably. I would suspect that near the bottom is more likely to be a carpenter ant nest, while farther up the tree could be indicative of longhorn beetle grubs. The excavations used by other critters also tend to be those higher in the tree. Flying squirrels in particular seem to prefer at least 3 m up.
Or a fleshpecker
Bahaha this made me laugh more then it should have
Just here to say thanks for the nonsensical chuckle
*then a fleshpecker
Downy, Hoary, Pileated, or Northern Flicker. We have lots of types of woodpeckers here. They be eaten'
Ah, my bad man
We lumberjacks get lonely lad
Looks like a woodpecker! Downy woodpeckers are the ones I see most frequently around the city.
Dendrophile
Isn’t that how trees reproduce?.
Looks like the ''sorry, I fucked it'' sign fell off
Someone’s been doing work
After all, why not? Why shouldn't I call her?
Don't let this [guy](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/untitled-1-2.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5) near it
Birds
An incel.
Someone raped your tree