Metal Pecker With Blind Determination

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A couple of things, before I unleash the 'Fingers of Fantasy' and subject you to another onslaught of well-meaning but sometimes esoteric prose, this time about a metal pecker with blind determination.

Although my stay here WA had been relatively short, I have noticed a few things. One of which is that weekends tend to be on the quiet side. Last night I was wandering the labyrinth of hallways and found there only to be, a few 'lost souls' like myself...heads down, almost apologetic in their demeanor. As if they have been caught in a restricted part of the colossal inner sanctum of WA.

I cannot give reason, in so much as to say, maybe members were enjoying some well-earned respite from the hard labours of digital entrepreneurship. Doesn't say much for me then, or maybe I'm a hopeless insomniWAc

Another possibility was that there was a general sombre feeling afoot. I know I was caught in a reverie a number of times yesterday when remembering the tragic events that occurred over the latter part of the week, added to by the more personal hardships being endured by some of the members here.

At times, I was enveloped by a sense of sorrow for those who have lost loved ones, their lives shattered, other lives not fulfilled. I also had a feeling of inadequacy, I can show support with words and not much else. However, when those moments have come upon me I have made an extra effort to actually stop and think. I can only hope that those affected have the support they need and if it matches the outpouring of heartfelt words that have been shown here at WA, then they will be in good hands. Just wanted to add my bit as I felt it hard to find the right words when I was replying on posts.

So, back to the post. First of all, the title is in no way a reference to a 'Bionic appendage' it is in fact a reference to a woodpecker. I am not an ornithologist so if any of the following has factual inaccuracies then please forgive and correct as necessary.

As you might know, every morning I walk the dogs. This used to be a joint venture but circumstances and own need to get up a 'ridiculous o'clock' has meant that, for the most part, it is now a sole excursion. On occasion, we would hear a loud 'rat-a-tat-tat-ing' and for many months we could not work out what it was. Time and deep thought led us to the conclusion that it was most likely a woodpecker.

You may wonder why it took us any length of time at all to come up with this. There are some trees near the field we walk but they are small in stature and don't spring to mind as the natural habitat of said woodpecker.

Finally we worked it out and after spending a good ten minutes with our heads back and necks

straining, we spotted the hard-working bird. The surprise was that he was not going at a tree, more over a very tall 'Phone signal tower'. I'm not sure what it's function is, you may know by looking at it.

It was perched about nine tenths of the way up and happily drilling away at the mast.

Just to remind you, this has been going on for years. Not every day but at least a couple of times a week.

Now I know that not all animals are deserving of the title 'intelligent'. Loyal, lovable and cute maybe but this one only has to do one thing to earn its name...peck wood.

So I ask myself, what is itS motivation ? It reminds me of the character in the Clint Eastwood movie 'Pale Rider' who goes out every day and tries to smash a huge boulder with his rather useless sledgehammer. The hammer just bounces off and makes no impression, regardless he carried on, undeterred. The man has a belief that one day he will break the boulder and gold will be found herein. He has endless amounts of faith. The woodpecker does not have the same driving force behind him, or does he ? Does he believe that one day the metal will 'give' and a hole will appear ? Does he just do it to improve his technique so that when he finds his dream tree he will be able to make short work of hollowing it out ?

Maybe it is just one feather short of a plume. We had a Doberman once who was completely

daft, not one morsel of intelligence, beautiful and loving but thick as two short ones. You could hold a ball in your hand and move it around, she would follow your hand with anticipated eagerness, ready to play. Then you could bounce the ball and she would watch it hit the ground....and continue to look at the ground as the ball continued on its upwards trajectory. It was great, you could do it as many times as you wanted and the result would always be the same...good times.

Back to our misguided woodpecker but only briefly as I have a point. The Pale Rider digression was in fact a slight 'red herring' as in the end, with help, the boulder broke. So hard work, perseverance and the help of Clint paid off. Banging your beak against a metal upright will only cause long term injury and despair...do birds feel despair, sadness or regret ? Anyway, I thought about the woodpecker this morning and likened it to how

sometimes we can become 'blinded' when we are trying to accomplish something. We are so determined to reach our goals or targets that we loose site of the 'reality' of the situation.

I'm not saying give up on your ultimate goal, no never. Your intentions and motives may be good ones. All I'm saying is that you may better off, stepping back and re-evaluating what you're trying to achieve. Your efforts and hard work might be better served in another direction.

As for the woodpecker, well, all it needs is for someone to tap him on the shoulder and say " Buddy that's metal, why don't you try that tree over there"

Just my thoughts,rightly or wrongly, as always.

Be well.



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Recent Comments

49

The woodpecker is an amazing bird. He tats away at 20 pecks per second. He can't do more than 2-3 seconds like a pneumatic drill because unfortunately, he has to breathe. Great post!

Thanks Micheal, I've learnt so much from the comments left.

After reading some of these comments I see that some woodpeckers throw themselves at metal to attract a mate. Well, tomorrow is my 24th wedding anniversary so I think it's safe to say that any pecking I do will be here at WA. I already have a mate. Anyway, I really think I need to stop and look at everything around me here at WA and not be to focused on one point ( metal tower ) at a time.

Thanks for the post!

Cal

Thanks Cal, always good to stop and have a look round every once in a while, you might miss something.

I feel like the woodpecker sometimes when I run into a problem, like I trying something that I will never accomplish. Then I go back to work to solve the problem. Still my beak is sore and I just keep pecking on. Thanks for the story and I don't think your woodpecker will ever make it to the living room. Please like my comments, thanks Sruffey

That was a reply to Dragonfly, but all of the comment except for the roof part goes to Twack.

Thanks David, I'll take my bit. Be well.

Yes, Dale is correct. This is the woodpecker's way of calling a mate. I live in rural Eastern Wa. I have a Pileated Woodpecker working on my metal roof. I keep waiting for him to fall into the living room. 🤣🤣

I've just been informed that ours is quite possibly a 'Pied' variety.

Sruffey less than a minute ago
I feel like the woodpecker sometimes when I run into a problem, like I trying something that I will never accomplish. Then I go back to work to solve the problem. Still my beak is sore and I just keep pecking on. Thanks for the story and I don't think your woodpecker will ever make it to the living room. Please like my comments, thanks Sruffey

I happen to have a bit of an interest in birds, and it is actually very common for woodpeckers to peck metal throughout the months of January to April as it’s coming up to their breeding season. Their peck during these months is their mating call, and the louder the peck the better chance of getting a mate... so if they find something like a metal surface which makes a nice loud sound they’ll stick with it :) there is method behind the madness lol.

I'm back to laughing now....

Thank you Dale, finally a man who is concened with the birds welfare as am I. I can hear him all the way across the field so...well I think he's going to do alright.

Bionic Bird seeks female with similar interests. Pecking order to be estabished upon introduction prior to mating

Haha yeah, I live against a forest & there’s some in there. It’s amazing how loud they can be, even against a tree!

Pecking ?

Yep pecking :)

Yes for all their might,
Sandy

Dogged determination no less. One assumes they are not like swans in their fidelity to a single partner (or is that a myth ?) as this guys been at it for a good number of years.

Now I am laughing 😂, thanks for the chuckle, I needed it, thanks Sruffey

☘☘☘ nature at her best -- just giving a wee lil' signal -- and do pray tell, what exactly is that signal? ... ☘☘☘

I think it was Morse Keisha.

*** you mean like Morse Code -- SOS .... ***

_ _ _ - - - _ _ _ ! .... ☘☘☘

Yes, hard to decipher though, he was pecking real fast.

Like Snowolf said it's a bionic pecker. LMAO thanks for the mood changing comments. Thanks Sruffey

Crazy mixed up bird. Hope he/she doesn’t weaken the tower and cause it to collapse. Maybe that is what they use to sharpen the the pecker up with. Will have to investigate after my side stop hurting from rolling on the floor laughing (ROTFL)

Barry

good luck... I'm still laughing... it's been 15 mins

Dogs, birds,me, maybe it's the tower itself that's the issue??

Maybe, LMAO Sruffey

Great post! Yes, I don't think we can go wrong by stepping back and evaluating what we're trying to do. In fact, I'm evaluating and re-vamping a few things myself right now. Thanks for the post! :)

Have a productive week!
Colleen

Thank you Colleen, I'm looking forward to it.

It's very plastic this #Metal Pecker# thing, Twack. You know there are other insomnia in the world and other parts of the globe.

Ioan

Absolutely loan, thank you.

Yeah,@Twack!

Oh Dear!! Where to start??
Bionic Appendages, Pale Rider, and Doberman
I must come back when I'm not laughing...

I'm sorry... I may have to tap out on this one... my sides hurt, and I have tears now...
The dog is about to call the Sanitorium....

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