A Woodpecker Story

My backyard is full of all kinds of birds,

and one of those is

the amazing woodpecker.

This is the Golden-fronted Woodpecker.

She is about 10 inches long,

and is sitting here in one of our mesquite trees.

The male has a small red cap,

but I didn't see the male today.

I really love Native American lore,

and bird lore is one of my favorites.

One Native American story of old

about the woodpecker

 goes like this....

Once, many moons ago, 

there was a woodpecker

who taught a very shy young man

how to make a flute.

This young man wanted to ask for the hand of

 a beautiful young woman in his village.

He was so shy

he just didn't know how to ask her to marry him.

One day,

while walking in the forest,

he heard a most lovely sound coming from a small tree branch.

A woodpecker had pecked holes into this branch.

When the wind blew gently through the holes,

  a beautiful and magical flute-like sound was created.

The young man decided that he would

take this branch back to the village.

He knew that if he serenaded the young woman he loved so much

with this lovely and delightful flute music,

she would fall in love with him.

And,

she did.

Savor the Day!

Yvonne