Woody Woodpecker

Early Sunday morning found me biking through the districts of Willow Park and Lake Bonavista on my way to Fish Creek Provincial Park. My destination was Bebo Grove, located at the west end of the park, and hopefully an encounter with a Pileated Woodpecker. The Fish Creek valley narrows and deepens upstream of Macleod Trail, and there is a corresponding change in the flora and fauna. Stands of White Spruce begin to appear on the north-facing slopes and the extensive meadows, characteristic of the eastern half of the park, gradually give way to Aspen. Several species of bird that are rare or absent east of Macleod Trail can be found here, including Ruffed Grouse and Boreal Chickadee. This section of Fish Creek PP experienced massive damage during the 2005 flood, several pedestrian bridges and pathways were washed out when the creek overflowed. It was not until September 2007 that the park reopened following the construction of new bridges and a redesigned pathway system.

Arriving at Bebo Grove, I secured my bike to a spruce tree in the picnic area below the parking lot. While still cool in the valley, the temperature was already rising and it promised to be a beautiful spring day. A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers had been reported in this area for much of the winter. While not rare in Calgary, this species can be surprisingly elusive at times. Starting out on the extensive network of trails, I observed several species over the next three hours, including Red-breasted Nuthatches and Pine Siskins, but no woodpecker. The forecasted chinook winds were starting to make their presence and I took that as a sign to head back to the bike for something to eat. I had almost finished my granola bars and juice when I thought I heard the call of a Pileated Woodpecker from across the creek. It called again, this time closer, definitely a Pileated! Heading in the direction of the calls, I managed to get a brief glimpse of the woodpecker flying across the creek. Back at the bike, I finished the rest of my lunch, before starting the ride home.