Native to the Southeastern United States, the Red-cockaded woodpecker is the only North American woodpecker to nest in live trees. The male's cockade, a series of red feathers under the crown, isn't visible unless the male displays, so it is, apparently, difficult to tell the males and females apart. Ornithologists suggest this is a good thing, since they're cooperative breeders and a less obvious display makes aggression less likely.
The red-cockaded woodpecker has been on the endangered species list since the 1970s.
I saw a video on The New York Times web site about military installations becoming de facto wildlife preserves. As species are pushed out of their habitats, they move to areas that are less developed and/or more carefully managed. Military bases fit the bill. Today, many bases are working with the the US Forestry Service and the Nature Conservancy to manage their lands - turns out well-managed land is good for both wildlife conservation and military operations. This kind of cooperation seems like a very good thing.
Doodled from a photo in Woodpeckers of North America.
