I went to the Redstone Pines to look for tracks with a friend. We initially didn’t see many prints besides human ones. However, while we were looking, we heard the distinct tapping of a woodpecker! Sure enough, a pileated woodpecker was pecking away at a tree.
This bird was pretty easy to identify as a woodpecker based solely on its behavior. Afterward, I looked up some of the different kinds of woodpeckers found in Northern Vermont, and instantly was able to tell this is a pileated woodpecker. Pileated woodpeckers are large, almost the size of a crow, with distinct black and white stripes, a black body, and a red head.
We also observed prints of what we believe to be a deer. Using my Mammal Tracks and Scat Pocket guide, I was able to measure the length of these tracks to be about 7-8cm. According to the guide, deer tracks can be 6-9 cm in length. The tracks also emulate the curved hoof shown in the guide. While I am unsure what kind of deer this may be, white-tailed deer seem to be the most prevalent species in the area.
