AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Characteristics of Foraging Trees Selected by Pileated Woodpeckers in New Brunswick

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1999
Authors:Flemming, SP, Holloway, GL, E. Watts, J, Lawrance, PS
Journal:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume:63
Issue:2
Date Published:1999
ISBN Number:0022541X
Keywords:Corvidae, Corvus, Corvus corone, Dryocopus, Dryocopus pileatus, Picidae
Abstract:Little is known about the pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) in eastern North America. Hence, as part of a larger habitat use study, we examined the excavation foraging habitat of the pileated woodpecker in Fundy National Park (contiguous forest) and the surrounding fragmented forest landscape of southern New Brunswick (1993-95). Pileated woodpeckers usually used red spruce (Picea rubens) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) but also used deciduous species as foraging substrate. Pileated woodpeckers used larger (median diameter at breast height [dbh] = 27.7 vs. 19.1 cm; P < 0.001), more decayed (median decay class = 6.0 vs. 1.0; P < 0.001) trees than were randomly available. Pileated woodpeckers also preferentially foraged at lower heights on coniferous trees (P < 0.001), but foraging at the base of the tree was not influenced by cover (Ps = 0.50-0.90). We found few differences in stand characteristics between the park and the surrounding fragmented forest. Still, comparison of the number of foraging signs per tree indicated balsam fir was used more intensively in the fragmented forest than in the contiguous forest (median number of signs = 16.0 vs. 10.0), which suggested a limited availability. In our New Brunswick study area, pileated woodpeckers were associated with, and possibly depended on, older forests for foraging habitat. Current wildlife habitat objectives for Crown Lands in the province may be inadequate for providing sufficient foraging habitat over the long term.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3802631
Short Title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith