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Cavity tree selection by red-cockaded woodpeckers in relation to tree age

Informally Refereed

Abstract

We aged over 1350 Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) cavity trees and a comparable number of randomly selected trees. Resulting data strongly support the hypothesis that Red-cockaded Woodpeckers preferentially select older trees. Ages of recently initiated cavity trees in the Texas study areas generally were similar to those of cavity trees initiated during the last several decades. In effect, the birds are continuing to select the oldest trees from a pool of trees of increasing age. This suggests that the current average age of cavity trees on these sites (85-130 yrs) may not provide optimum cavity trees for this endangered species.

Citation

Rudolph, D. Craig; Conner, Richard N. 1991. Cavity tree selection by red-cockaded woodpeckers in relation to tree age. Wilson Bulletin. 103(3): 458-467.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/1290