Finding My Spirit Bird: The Panda-faced Woodpecker

One of the things I love about Oregon are the numerous natural areas within a reasonable drive – state parks, national forests, the coast, mountains and national wildlife refuges. We’ve already talked about Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) that is just a few minutes away from our home. And just a bit farther south is Finley NWR.

View from Woodpecker Trail

Iris

Moss

When we first set out to go there, I was way more excited about this trip than many of the other birding trips we’ve had so far because of our target species – the Acorn Woodpecker. This bird, in hippy talk, is what I consider to be my “spirit bird.” I’ve loved this bird from afar for so many years, and honestly thought it would be much a very long time until I’d finally see one, as I didn’t foresee when we’d make it out west. So why is the Acorn Woodpecker my spirit bird? Well, if you don’t already know, Acorn Woodpeckers have a delightful behavior of drilling holes, or using the natural spaces in tree bark, to store huge caches of acorns, and sometimes other nuts. They can fill one tree, called the granary tree, with up to 50,000 holes! Now that’s impressive. Their OCD-like tendency to place acorns into these holes, and then continuing to move them around when the acorns shrink from drying out and get loose, speaks to my quirky, bordering obsessive, tendency of organizing and placing objects in just the right way.

Woods' Rose, maybe?

*Correction: California Poppy

Disonycha sp.

Upon first arriving at Finley NWR, we naturally walked The Woodpecker Trail hoping to find our target bird. We actually didn’t see it there, but we still had great birds that we couldn’t complain about, including SIX lifers! Right as we got to the trailhead, we had an adorable group of California Quail scuttle across the path in front of us. And before we could even continue along the trail, a gorgeous little male Rufous Hummingbird buzzed by us and obligingly landed on a tiny bare branch to allow great looks at him. 

California Quail

Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Hitting the trail, we picked up the other 4 lifers: Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Gray Jay, Pacific Wrens, and Red-breasted Sapsuckers. When we found the Gray Jays, there was a cacophonous battle going on between Steller’s Jays and the Gray Jays. They flew back and forth at each other through the treetops, squawking as loudly as they could. I wish I had gotten good shots of the Gray Jays – they make me laugh. They’re so thick and stocky, and a bit Danny Devito-like, unlike the usual svelte other jays we’re used to seeing. This trail was so full and we had seen so much out there that after taking our time going through, Nick swore we had traveled at least 3, maybe 5, miles, but the trail was only 1.1 miles!

Pacific-Slope Flycatcher

Pacific Wren

Red-Breasted Sapsucker

The wonders of Finley NWR didn’t stop there. Not only would we walk away from our first trip out there with about half a dozen lifers, but we’ve also had some great views of non-lifers, like a gorgeous male Lazuli Bunting, singing so sweetly in the treetops. And the swallows around this area in general, especially Tree Swallows, seem to not mind landing and taking a rest in close view while letting you soak in their awesomeness, especially since they’re nesting.

Lazuli Bunting

Lazuli Bunting

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow

But did we find our target species after all – my spirit bird? Why yes, yes we did! They were not on Woodpecker Trail as we had suspected (with that name, and all), but they were a little drive over to the visitor center. Our first time there, as soon as we stepped out of the car, we were warmly greeted by the residents there – no, not the staff, but a family of none other than Acorn Woodpeckers!!! Finally, my moment had arrived as I encountered my spirit bird. They are as magnificent in person as I had imagined. With their black and ever so slightly cream-colored faces, they kinda look like panda bears. But with their bold red crowns and rad, rock-n-roll black pattern on their white bellies (and their ‘tude), they are no docile panda.

Acorn Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

We observed with awe and amazement these fantastic birds as they flew around the large oaks calling to each other. And we even got a nice glimpse of one of their caches. Since there are plenty of bugs to eat right now (which they actually prefer if they’re available) we didn’t see any acorn storing, but we’ll definitely have to watch them in autumn when they’ll be storing for the winter, showing off their incredible talent for hoarding seeds.

Acorn Woodpecker acorn cache

Acorn Woodpecker