Effects of midstory reduction and thinning in red-cockaded woodpecker cavity tree clusters

Richard N. Conner; D. Craig Rudolph

Effects of midstory reduction and thinning in red-cockaded woodpecker cavity tree clusters

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Richard N. Conner, D. Craig Rudolph

Year:

1991

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Southern Research Station

Source:

Wildlife Society Bulletin. 19(1): 63-66

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Abstract

The red-cockaded woodpecker's (Picoides borealis) preference for open pine forest is well known (U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. 1985). Encroachment of hardwood midstory within redcockaded woodpecker clusters (colonies, aggregations of cavity trees used by groups of woodpeckers, see Walters et al. 1988) is believed to cause cluster abandonment (Hopkins and Lynn 1971, Van Balen and Doerr 1978, Locke et al. 1983, Hovis and Labisky 1985). Hardwood midstory encroachment has been statistically correlated to severe population declines of red-cockaded woodpeckers in Texas (Conner and Rudolph 1989).

Citation

Conner, Richard N.; Rudolph, D. Craig. 1991. Effects of midstory reduction and thinning in red-cockaded woodpecker cavity tree clusters. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 19(1): 63-66.