I'M TIRED OF ALL THIS PECKING MAMMAL composed the shot and began

composed the shot and began shooting this outstanding sunset at Wildflower Park in Northern Illinois

A red-winged blackbird sings out to attract a mate while being perched atop a cattail at Wildflower Park

there were an abundance of them

With the colors of the sunrise appearing just before the sun touched the horizon

I'M TIRED OF ALL THIS PECKING MAMMAL composed the shot and beganThe smallest of North Americas woodpeckers, the downy woodpeckers are wide spread and common throughout their range however, they avoid the arid southwest. They are typically very active moving quickly on the branches and through the tree looking for insects. The downy and hairy woodpeckers are almost identical in plumage. The downy can be distinguished from the hairy by its smaller size and by the black dots on its white tail feathers. (523 98)