Five three-toes woodpeckers, Larimer County

[Libby Edwards]

Yesterday on the Emmaline Lake trail in the spruce forest above Pingree Park, Poudre Canyon, we saw 5 three-toed woodpeckers foraging.  The first pair foraging together were at about 9,500 ft along the trail.  They were knocking and going up a spruce.  The next pair were at about 10,200 ft on a downed log, foraging together across it.  I have posted a picture.  I don't have a big camera so this is what I got.  They often squeaked at each other and continued their ripping up of the bark while we stood there nearby.  The third woodpecker was closer to the lake maybe about 10,500 ft. and going up a tree.

I went back to the Overlook trail a couple of days later in Lory State Park to see if I could see the 3-toed woodpeckers I saw there last week.  There is quite a bit more of ripping up of the bark of a leaning downed ponderosa right along the trail.  You can't miss it.  No sign of the birds though but they definitely had done more work.  Is this unusual to see 3-toed activity in a lower Ponderosa forest?

Libby Edwards

Fort Collins

Larimer County