Hi Tweets,

> Maureen Ellis wrote:
>
> A Pileated woodpecker appeared in Des Moines Beach Park, today
(03-02-97),
> flying from the big Western red cedar snag near Cabin F across to trees
on
> the south "rim" of the park. This is marginal way-too-many-people
habitat
> for them in terms of hectare requirements of woodland. Maybe they can
> make use of the remaining corridors of big trees in this area, and adapt
> to the wooded sanctuaries provided by connecting ravines, bluffs, etc.,
in
> the absence of a large wooded park like Carkeek or Seward. A call to
Thais
> Bock revealed that Pileateds are known to nest in the suburban
> "forests" between Burien and Federal Way. This is my first sighting
> (three seasons of monitoring) of this species in this area, and there is,
> as yet, no visible evidence of drilled rectangles on any trees here; so
> will keep watching.

Considerable signs of Pileated Woodpecker workings can be found not very
far up Des Moines
Creek drainage from the Marina; around 13th Av or so. I observed both a
male and
female in this area on 1/2/97.

There is a storm sewer that runs along the north side of Des Moines Creek
sided
by a well maintained service road. It runs through the area denoted
as Des Moines Creek Park in the Thomas Guide. I've never found a very well
marked
"public" access to this road, but there is short unmarked trail from the
corner
of 217th Pl and 13th Av that drops down to the roadway. From signs I've
seen posted
up on 200th St, it appears that this road may be officially opened as a
multi-use trail
in the near future.

Regards,

Kirk Scarbrough
Kent, WA