Woodpecker pays Christmas visit
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On Christmas Day, Mark DeCracker's cat, Butterscotch, took a leap and caught a Downy Woodpecker. Mark rescued the bird from the cat and handed it to his daughter, Colleen.

The bird seemed to bond with Colleen, so she took her new feathered friend into the DeCracker's Lyons home. According to Mark, the bird clung to Colleen for over an hour, before hopping from her into the family's Christmas Tree. It stayed in the tree for over two hours. Mark hung suet nearby for the bird to eat.

The bird, which Colleen named Hope, eventually jumped from the tree to a window and began pecking at the window. Mark's wife opened the window and Hope flew out to a fence post. The bird's mate soon appeared and the two flew away together.

Special thanks to all the DeCrackers for sharing their beautiful Christmas tale (and photos) with us. We're sure it will be told to many DeCracker generations yet to come.

Happy Holidays to all.