Habitat, Habitat, Have to have a Habitat

Snow. You either love it or… well. Me, as long as I don’t have to drive in it, I love it! My feet are all-terrain vehicles. I was sad to see it melting so soon in another “river of rain”. Still, I thought maybe we could find some if we looked deep enough in the woods. So Sunday, under brilliant blue skies, a friend and I turned toward Anacortes and the trails at Whistle Lake.

The roads were clear almost all the way. The parking lot was full of cars driven by brave souls who managed the last stretch of curvy, icy, snowy roadway. We walked up the old forest road toward the lake, adjusting our stride to the changing surface underfoot of soft mud, crusty snow, or slick, compact ice. A bold sun sliced between the trees promising warmth and light ahead.

Nearing the lake, the hammering of a pileated woodpecker drew our attention. This striking bird, one of the largest in the forest, was intently drilling holes in a rotten snag sending wood chips flying. It typically makes a rectangular hole and excavates cavities that other critters can use for foraging or nesting.

I remember the first time I noticed one, not by its bright red crest, but by the ferocious thwacking noise that carried across the backyard and through the closed windows of my southern childhood home. I went outside to see who was hammering in the woods behind our house. My mother identified it for me. I still find it fascinating to watch, chiseling deep holes and foraging for insects.

Seeing it reminded me of its look alike, the ivory billed woodpecker. In 2021 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing it as Extinct. But many people still hold out hope for these magnificent birds of the southeastern woodlands. The ivory billed, largest woodpeckers of North America, depend upon vast swaths of old growth forest. As the trees were cut, the woodpecker population plummeted. The most recent credible sighting was in 1944. Many experts have sought out the 'Holy Grail of Birds’ to no avail. Alas, despite extensive searching, it may never be seen again. Southern forest habitat is improving now, so if there are any left, perhaps they’ll make it. Keeping it on the Endangered Species List allows us to keep a candle of hope burning and protects the habitat that supports them and many other species. It’s a lesson we keep learning, wildlife needs wild land.

The slightly smaller pileated woodpecker was able to adapt to second growth forests and are found in the eastern US, mid-western Canada and here in the Pacific NW. On our islands we have a few places with large swaths of protected wild lands. We’re fortunate to live in a place where we can hike for miles, by sunny lakes, marshy wetlands and frozen ponds. But for some birds and wildlife, it’s not just a pleasant place to spend a day, it’s a matter of survival.

We saw a lot of people out walking last Sunday. Some rode bikes. Some brought fishing poles. Most were walking their dogs. (Or was it the other way around?) I’m so grateful to the City of Anacortes for preserving thousands of acres of wild lands around the south side of town for people and wildlife. And I’m thankful for the staff and volunteers who build and maintain trails there.

On our drive home, every trailhead we passed was packed with hikers anxious to be outdoors and soak up some sun after a week of dismal clouds and rain. Whistle Lake is surrounded by trails that twitch and turn. You can take a different route each time you go. This bright, sunny day, we walked to the lake, spied ducks and cormorants, then circled to the east through the woods passing frozen ponds, marshes and snowy fern banks. We felt truly blessed by the sun, the snow, and all the wild lands we have and those that protect them. (Get a map below.) 

P.S. This week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reopened a public comment period on listing the ivory billed woodpecker as extinct. Read more here.

Read more about the search for the ivory billed woodpecker here. 

Get a map of Whistle Lake trails here.

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Directions: From Hwy 20 at Sharpe's Corner Roundabout drive west toward Anacortes. At the next roundabout on Commercial Avenue turn south (3/4 of the way around) and drive up the hill. Turn left at the T on Fidalgo Avenue, turn left again on to Hillcrest, then right and right again onto Whistle Lake Road (around the cemetery) and follow that road until, near the end, you'll see a sign to Whistle Lake. Don't leave valuables in your car. 

Bus or Bike: There is no bus service and it's not a great place to bike to. However, if you bring a mountain bike, you may ride the forest road to the lake.

Mobility: The mile long walk from the parking lot to the lake is gentle and wide but can be muddy or even snowy at times.