I put out water for birds all year long and as the weather grows colder the stainless steel water dish often freezes over. Apart from checking for filled feeders, my winter morning ritual includes making sure the birds water dish is full. If a night is very cold then in the morning I fill a jug with hot water and pour it across the ice caked water dish. If the dish is solidly frozen, I turn the bowl upside down and spill hot water on the base of the bowl until the ice cake falls out, usually without a problem.

Sometimes, if there is just a thin skin of surface ice, I pour a steady stream of hot water until the hot water burns though the layer of ice. Then I continue pouring water just to watch it churn and swirl beneath the ice surface. This way the hot water dislodges the cold water from beneath the ice, and melts its way upwards until all the surface ice is gone. I find this activity quite entertaining; it always reminds me of the expression 'you're playing with fire!' However, it never reminds me of the expression 'You're playing with ice!'

Often a typical winter day begins as I forget to melt the ice from my water dish. Then I look out the side window and see Chickadee after Chickadee fly forlornly away from the water dish after many failed attempts to pick away the water dish ice. I can't just sit inside and ignore their plight!

Recently, I lugged the jug of hot water to the water dish and noticed that something else had been picking at the ice. I suspected a Woodpecker due to their quite capable beaks, but was not thoroughly convinced a Woodpecker would know enough to chip a hole through ice. In fact I dismissed the scattered chunks of ice on the water dish as splintering caused by the cold weather.

Two days ago, a particularly thirsty Pileated Woodpecker demonstrated his resourcefulness. After eating at the suet feeder for a little while, he flew down to the water dish and discovered the frozen water. Gripping the rim of the bowl tightly with its feet, it delivered several forceful blows from its powerful beak. Chips of ice sprayed from the bowl. In short order the Woodpecker chopped a hole through two inches of solid ice and took his drink.

I was impressed. Perhaps, it is common knowledge that Woodpeckers chop holes in ice, but I've never heard about it, or seen it happen. You would think this type of behavior could require a certain amount of abstract thinking. Sure, Woodpeckers chop holes in trees in search of food and excavate nest holes as part of their activities, but a Woodpecker that makes the connection between hacking a hole in ice, and reaching water, is truly amazing.

The French name the Pileated Woodpecker "le Grand Pic," the big Woodpecker. After the recent demonstration at the water dish I would like to give the Pileated another name, "le Glace Pic," the Ice Pick.