Contrary to what we might ordinarily think, burned out forests often teem with life. And few species illustrate this as well as the Black-backed Woodpecker, which prefers snags in burned out forests. It is this dependence that has prompted conservation organizations to seek protections for the bird, as both logging and fire management practices are reducing the number of burned trees available. The woodpecker lives throughout the northern forests of the United States, but only in the northeastern corner of California, down through the Sierras. Next week, the California Fish and Game Commission will consider a petition submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Earth Island Institute to list the Black-backed Woodpecker as a threatened or endangered species. (photo by Larry Meade)