No binoculars necessary: This photographer has a wild Red-Bellied Woodpecker eating out of his hand in the most literal sense.
Birdwatching is usually a wistful pursuit. They’re among the most beautiful creatures that nature has to offer, but how difficult they can be to get a good view of.
Binoculars, birdfeeders, and cleverly placed blinds have closed the distance for many bird lovers, but our feathered friends still seem to be just too far away to soak in.
People have found that during winter when food is scarce, it’s relatively easy to entice wild birds to eat out of your hand. Patience is key.
Whatever the story is here, one photographer wins a stunning encounter with a gorgeous Red-Bellied Woodpecker that seems fearless of the human hand it lands on.
This moment with a wild bird was surely fleeting, but the photographer has done the rest of us the kindness of working some film magic and showing us the whole thing in slow motion.
