Home range and habitat-use of white-headed woodpeckers in managed and unmanaged forests, central Oregon [research/budget proposal]. Draft

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Abstract:

White-headed woodpeckers (Picoides albolarvatus Cassin) in central Oregon will be studied to assess the impact of timber harvesting on their populations. Although Oregon represents a large portion of the white-headed woodpecker's range, information on the species' habits and movements is unavailable. White-headed woodpeckers inhabit mature and old-growth ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests in their northern range. They nest in moderately decayed snags and often forage on large-diameter (>51 cm dbh) ponderosa pines. The removal of large pines along the east slope of the Cascades may eliminate critical white-headed woodpecker habitat. This study will obtain information on the relative abundance, home range, habitat requirements, and foraging strategies of white-headed woodpeckers in central Oregon. These variables will be compared between managed and unmanaged mature and old-growth ponderosa pine forests. We will use variable-width line transects to determine relative abundance and radio-telemetry to obtain information on white-headed woodpecker habits and movements. We expect differences in home range size and abundance between managed and unmanaged stands. The results will provide management agencies with guidelines for managing white-headed woodpeckers and their habitat.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Birds