Adirondack Birding

This past weekend, I joined my son’s boy scout troop on a camping trip to Lake George. While they were whitewater rafting on the Sacandaga river, I drove an hour north to the Roosevelt Truck Trail. The history, and the reason the trail is named as such, is a fascinating one. I can highly recommend the account below.

The Midnight Ride of Theodore Roosevelt

I had several boreal species in mind: Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, and others. However the bird I most hoped to see was the Black-backed Woodpecker. When I arrived at the northern end of the trail, the fog was thick and the woods were dripping. I’d assumed that the trail would be well traveled, but that was not the case. The vegetation was thick and high, and before I’d gone a tenth of a mile, I was completely soaked from the waist down. Although the surrounding forest was exceedingly beautiful, I had no wish to continue.

Retracing my steps to the car, I drove around to the southern end of the trail, and began hiking. The trail was much better and less overgrown, and although I remained completely wet, my spirits improved dramatically. As I ascended the gradual trail, I reveled in the calls of Hermit and Swainson’s thrushes, Winter Wrens, Magnolia, Nashville and various other warblers.

After hiking almost a mile, a female Roughed Grouse appeared on the trail ahead of me, calling loudly. Most grouse sightings begin with the bird exploding from the undergrowth near you, and end a few seconds later as it vanishes into the woods. This encounter was entirely different. She was calling to her young, either to follow her, or to remain in hiding, and never left the immediate area. I stopped for a few minutes to get some photos, and then moved on. Unfortunately, I never saw the young birds, and the family of grouse had left by the time I returned down the trail.

As I hiked back down the trail to the car, I’d pretty much given up finding a Black-backed Woodpecker. The weather just wasn’t that great, and there wasn’t much time before I had to return. And then it happened! I heard a woodpecker call behind me that did not sound familiar. Retracing my steps, I spotted the bird on a tall dead tree. I was ecstatic, and watched for a few moments as it foraged, flying back and forth overhead and landing on nearby trees. The conditions weren't great, but I did manage to get a shot before it disappeared.

I don’t know when I’ll get back to the Adirondacks again, but I certainly enjoyed birding the Roosevelt Truck Trail!