Black-backed Woodpecker - Oscoda Co

[Santner, Steven]

	Yesterday (12/28) I went to Oscoda Co to try to find one or more of the Black-backed Woodpeckers that Jeff Chynoweth had previously posted.  I succeeded!!  I found one female and possibly another bird as well - it flew off before I could get any kind of a look at it.  The female was very cooperative, however, allowing me to watch it feeding for about ten minutes from as close as 20 ft.  The area I found it in can be a bit of a hike, especially if snow falls and the trail becomes difficult to follow (I had to go at least a mile to reach my bird).  To get to the spot, drive on Valley Rd west from M33 in southern Oscoda Co. for 7 or 8 miles to Jenkins Rd.  Then go an additional 0.8 mi to a small road on the right.  You can drive this "road" only for 100 yards or so before it is blocked by a stake.  Park and walk.  Initially, this looks like a road with trees fallen across it but it deteriorates from there.  From the stake go through the woods (few if any burned trees in this area) until you reach a small field.  You can see the two track crossing this field.  Continue, again going through the woods.  Now, you start to see burned trees.  You will eventually reach another small field.  This time you can see the trail crossing the field but it isn't really a two track any more.  Once you cross this field, there will be many burned trees.  I saw the Black-backed Woodpecker to the left of the trail after crossing this field.  The best way to find this bird is to listen for tapping.  There will be many birds working this burn.  I found 5 Pileated, 6 Hairy, and 4 Downy Woodpeckers in addition to the 1-2 Black-backeds.  There were also about 10 additional birds I wasn't able to track down.  It takes some patience to see these birds.

	Steve Santner