It’s a quiet morning. The pre-dawn sky is milky white with scattered clouds. The air is that delicious briskness of late fall. Standing silently at the edge of the pond I slowly pan my gaze from left to right, looking for any movement, any sign of the diurnal world waking up.

Gathering Seed
We have arrived at the moment of fullness in the seasonal year.
The natural world has reached a zenith in terms of growth and productivity.

Peak Season
We have arrived at the moment of fullness in the seasonal year.
The natural world has reached a zenith in terms of growth and productivity.

The Fullness of Summer
We have arrived at the moment of fullness in the seasonal year.
The natural world has reached a zenith in terms of growth and productivity.

What About Woodpeckers?
Go for a hike in any wooded area and you are bound to see holes in trees. Some may be from branches that have died and fallen off, some may be from one tree falling and hitting another, but many are probably from the percussion section of nature’s band: the woodpecker.Â