Woodpecker in FWG & La Machine in Ottawa!

Yesterday morning my girlfriend and I attended a birding workshop at Fletcher Wildlife Garden hosted by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.  The highlight of the workshop happened after the workshop ended and we saw a female Pileated Woodpecker (Hylatomus pileatus) pecking on a tree.

Pileated Woodpecker (Hylatomus pileatus)

In the evening, we walked towards LeBreton Flats to watch the finale of La Machine.  For those of you not in Ottawa, La Machine is a street theatre using giant robots (Long Ma - a half-horse, half-dragon; and Kumo - a giant spider) and it has attracted more than 750,000 visitors over the past four days.  There is a backstory to the whole performance, which you can read about it here.

Long Ma walkabout.




We were amazed by the incredible details and all the moveable body parts on Long Ma.




Oh yeah, Long Ma can breathe fire too!  This was the big battle scene between Long Ma and Kumo.


Long Ma triumphed over Kumo.


Long Ma getting his sacred temple back.  La Machine was definitely the most unique event that I have experienced here in Ottawa!

Next Sunday, my girlfriend and I are flying to Portland to present our researches at ESA.  Can't wait!