Paul Bannick presents 'Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers'

Name: Paul Bannick presents 'Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers'
Start: 2025-10-15T19:00:00-07:00
Location: 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA, United States, Washington 98155

Schedule

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA, United States, Washington 98155 | Lake Forest Park, WA

"Bannick’s photos are breathtaking, his prose elegant, his knowledge of woodpeckers encyclopedic. If you love birds, read it." —Ted Williams

Third Place Books welcomes author and nature photographer Paul Bannick to our Lake Forest Park store for a conversation about his new book, Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers. This combination of photography, nature writing, and field guide information is "a sure-fire way to turn even a casual birder into a woodpecker fanatic" (Kirkus).
The event is free and open to the public. For important updates, RSVP is highly recommended in advance. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book!
This event is co-sponsored by the North Cascades Institute, a nonprofit conservation organization working to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. Learn more at ncascades.org.

About Woodpecker. . .
"Wholly absorbing--a sure-fire way to turn even a casual birder into a woodpecker fanatic." —Kirkus Reviews
Woodpeckers are one of the most remarkable bird species found in the avian world. They have evolved in ways that make them ecologically critical to forest health, serving as keystone species in a variety of wooded habitats across North America. Their activities support a variety of other creatures, making them catalysts of diversity in the places they inhabit. They are, in many ways, the heartbeat of the forest.
Informed by his own experiences in the field as well as extensive research, author and photographer Paul Bannick delves into the natural and cultural history of woodpeckers from the boreal forest of northern Canada to oak woodlands and conifer forests in the United States to the wet tropical forests of Mexico and the Caribbean. He captures the woodpeckers' charismatic behavior as well as their colorful displays and sensitive habitats in astonishing images. And with accessible, science-based text, Bannick explores their courtship and nest selection process in spring; life in the nest during summer; fledging and gaining independence in autumn; and the challenges of winter survival. He compares and contrasts typical behavior and anomalies among the 41 woodpecker species in North America, and shares their conservation outlook for the future. Robust captions, interesting sidebars, and a comprehensive field guide round out this extraordinary volume.

Praise for Woodpecker. . .
"Paul Bannick’s camera work is so revelatory that Woodpecker is like sight for the blind. Never has this keystone species been portrayed so intimately. His prose explains that the extraordinary hammering that seems like tree vandalism is actually the work of forest doctors, as vital as they are beautiful. A lovely, informative book."
—William Dietrich, author of The Final Forest
"No other author/photographer has come close to creating a book like this. Bannick’s photos are breathtaking, his prose elegant, his knowledge of woodpeckers encyclopedic. If you love birds, read it. Then keep it handy because it has a second function as a field guide."
—Ted Williams, wildlife writer
"Paul Bannick’s work captures more than just the beauty of the natural world—it captures its soul. I had the privilege of collaborating with Paul on his 2008 book The Owl and the Woodpecker, providing the accompanying sounds. Since then, he’s become one of the world’s foremost wildlife photographers, and his new book A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers is yet another masterpiece. His imagery doesn’t just show us birds—it connects us to them. Truly remarkable."
—Martyn Stewart, co-founder of The Listening Planet
Paul Bannick is the award-winning photographer and author of four books, Snowy Owl: A Visual History, Great Gray Owl: A Visual History, The Owl and the Woodpecker: Encounters with North America’s Most Iconic Birds (ﬁnalist for the Washington State Book Award), and Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls (gold medal recipient of an Independent Publishers Book Award). Based in Seattle, Paul travels all over the world in pursuit of wildlife imagery that encourages conservation. Learn more at www.paulbannick.com.
About the Nature of Writing Series. . .
A deep appreciation for the transformative power of literature and art has been at the heart of North Cascades Institute since the very beginning. The humanities provide important lenses through which we inhabit and understand our shared landscapes. Our Nature of Writing Speaker Series celebrates the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.
For nearly 20 years, North Cascades Institute has worked in partnership with independent booksellers and community organizations to bring leading authors on environmental issues, natural and cultural history, poetry, art, wellness and adventure together in celebration and appreciation of nature. Past speakers have included Terry Tempest Williams, Gary Snyder, David B. Williams, Richard Louv, Peter Wohlleben, Brenda Peterson, Tim McNulty, Mary Oliver, Barry Lopez and Molly Hashimoto. By bringing our community together in conversation at these events, we aim to support authors, poets and artists and amplify their voices to promote lifelong stewardship through better understanding of the world around us.
Want a signed edition of the featured book, but can't make it to the event? Order through our website or over the phone, and write your request for a signature or personalization in the comments field at checkout. Please call the hosting store if you're placing your order within 24 hours of the event.
For media or access inquiries, please email [email protected] or call our Lake Forest Park store at (206) 366-3311.