Joe at Work

This is a finished cavity tree (second from right with white markings in the middle).Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers (RCW) are unique among North American woodpeckers in that they excavate cavities only in living pines.  Typically the pines are greater than 80 years old, and it may take months to create a cavity.  So, in order to more rapidly grow a population DNR inserts artificial cavities (part of Joe's job).  The finished tree is spray-painted with white streaks to mimic the sap flow (a visual cue for the RCW) that would be typical of a natural excavated cavity.

a big Coachwhip found at work

A co-worker, Chris, working on a cavity tree.