Bird watchers have noticed some rare woodpeckers have decided to call parts of Allegheny County home.
The red-headed woodpeckers with a white belly and black and white wings are more often seen in other parts of the state but three pair of them have been noticed here as of last fall.
Mike Fialkovich of the Three Rivers Birding Club says the woodpeckers are attracted to habitats with dead trees.
Two pair have been found in the North Park and Highland Park areas
“Areas of North Park where there are dead trees are actually small wetlands so a lot of the trees that grow in wetlands eventually die from the water levels and in Highland Park there’s (also) a few dead trees.”
A third pair was been found on private property in the county.
Fialkovich says while red-headed woodpeckers are common on the Eastern part of the United States, this is the first nesting that experts are aware of in the last 30 years.
He says if you see the woodpeckers, it's okay to admire them from afar, but don't disturb any nests you may see. Fialkovich says the pair in North Park is along a well-used trail and signage has been placed for those hoping to catch a glimpse.