The Red-cockaded Woodpecker population at the Nature Conservancy's Piney Grove
Preserve had another good year of productivity in 2013 with the successful
fledging of 20 birds from 9 breeding pairs. This is the third consecutive year
the population has produced at least 20 fledglings following bumper yields of
25 and 26 birds for 2011 and 2012, respectively. The slightly lower
productivity for 2013 compared to the previous 2 years was due to a combination
of one group not breeding and a lower than normal number of fledglings among
the remaining breeding groups. However, among the successful breeders this
year was a 13 year old male that has remained at his natal location and has
held onto breeding status there since 2005.
The Piney Grove Preserve supports the only population of Red-cockaded
Woodpeckers in Virginia and is the northernmost location for the species in the
world. Since 2001, the number of birds and breeding groups has tripled with
the help of population management, translocation, cavity competitor control,
artificial cavity installation, and a well-orchestrated regime of habitat
management that includes prescribed fire and selective tree removal.
Currently, the population is represented 51 adult birds and the 20 new
fledglings (10 males and 10 females). We will follow up with another census
in winter to determine the status and distribution of all individuals in the
population. Typically, only 50-75% of the fledgling birds are still present
during the winter survey.
Michael Wilson
Center for Conservation Biology
College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
phone: 757-221-1649
fax: 757-221-1650
email: mdwils@xxxxxx
web: www.ccbbirds.org
