Hi Tweeters;
I just returned from a great week in the south Okanagan in a valiant attempt
to locate White-headed Woodpeckers. Like alot of areas, the southern
interior of B.C. is suffering from over logging of old growth (in their
case the Ponderosa Pine forest). We trompted all over in the remaining
great habitat but without a single sighting in 5 days. The Red-napped
Sapsuckers were back in good numbers and Northern Flickers were very common.
We saw a couple Hairy and Pilieated Woodpeckers too. White-headed
Woodpeckers were a rare non-migratory resident but they seem to have
sufferred from lack of good continuous old growth habitat needed for their
nesting and general good health. We sure had some great days of no wind and
lots of sun with spectacular views. Winter is still hanging on at 4000 feet
(snow in dips and hollows) but the south facing slopes are finally warming
up. Fritillaria pucida (Yellow Bell) and the Balsamroot is just about out in
full bloom but we still had to do alot of pre-natal vegetation plots. We
had some interesting discussion over twigs and brown blobs. Praire Falcon
and Golden Eagles were my favorite birds though not much has made it back
yet to give them competition.

Tracee Geernaert
tracee at iphc.washington.edu