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Ontario's Cavity-Nesting Birds by Christy Macdonald

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Ontario's Cavity-Nesting Birds by Christy Macdonald 93 Ontario's Cavity-Nesting Birds by Christy MacDonald Introduction exhibit functional and numerical Standing dead trees (snags) play an responses to localized outbreaks of essential role in the provision of insect infestations. Kendeigh (1947) nesting, roosting, denning, perching, documented increased consumption and feeding sites for a variety of of spruce budworm (Choristoneura Ontario birds and mammals. fumiferana) by woodpeckers during an Approximately 85 species of birds in outbreak in Ontario forests. Besides North America either nest or feed in accelerating the decline of an snags, and these birds often represent outbreak, and perhaps more 30-45% of a forest bird community importantly, insectivorous birds play (Scott et al. 1977). Thirty-eight a major role in the retardation of species of Ontario breeding birds are insect populations before they reach to some degree dependent upon snags outbreak levels. Species most for nesting (see Table 1). involved in this respect are non­ migratory residents like woodpeckers, The Role of Cavity-Nesting Birds chickadees (Parus spp.) and in Ontario Forests nuthatches (Sitta spp.). These birds Cavity-nesting birds can be have the greatest impact on insect separated into two categories: populations during the winter when primary excavators and secondary their diet consists mainly of sedentary cavity-nesters. Primary excavators insect larvae. Resident bird species are those species which excavate a limit the number of insects emerging nesting or roosting cavity in a live or in the spring, thus reducing the dead tree. The species belonging to severity of summer outbreaks. Most this group are largely non-migratory, insectivorous birds feed by pecking, except Common Flicker (CoIaptes which disrupts the microhabitat of auratus), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker the insect prey thus having a (Sphyrapicus varius) and Red-headed detrimental effect on the over-winter Woodpecker (MeIanerpes survival of the remaining insects erythrocephaIus), and mainly (Otvos 1979). insectivorous. Insectivorous birds Ontario's primary excavators not play an important role in a forest only play an important role in insect community by influencing destructive suppression, but also in the provision insect populations (Koplin 1972; of nesting cavities for other species. Dickson et aI. 1979; and Temple et aI. Secondary cavity-nesters are unable 1979) in three ways: (1) directly (or rarely attemptI to excavate their through consumption, (2) indirectly own cavity, and are thus dependent by spreading pathogens to insect upon natural cavities or those built populations and (3) by altering the by other species. When a cavity built insect microhabitat. by a primary excavator is abandoned, Woodpecker populations in it may then provide a nesting site for particular have been known to a secondary cavity-nester. Some VOLUME 10 NUMBER 3 o \.0 z .,. :; o:::a Table 1: Cavity Nesting Ontario Breeding Birds, I:l:I ;;:; Showing Snag Use and Preference oVl o /:%:l (") Use of Snags Snag Type Preference /:%:l s: I:l:I /:%:l Live wilb :::a Primuy SccaDdary Live Wilb ~ SPECIES Romt Neat Forage Perch SoftSoaa Hard Soaa IBrokm top <0 Exc. Exc. Hear1rOt N mdlimb. WoodDuclc - X X X X Common Goldeneye X X X Buffidlead- X X Common Merganser X X X X Hooded Merganser - X X X X TW'key VullUre X X X X American KC&1rC1 - X X X Merlin X X X Eulem Scn=ech Owl - XX X X X Nor1bem Hawk Owl X X X X Barred Owl X X X X Great Homed Owl X X X X Nortbc:m Saw-wbc:t Owl- X X X X X Boreal Owl- X X X Ch.imoey Swift X X Common Flicka • X XXXX X X PiIeaICd Woodpccka • XX X XX X Yellow-bellied Saplucka· X XX XX XX Red-bellied Woodpecka • XXXXX Red-beaded Woodpecka· XXXXX Hairy Woodpccka • XXX X X X X Downy Woodpecka • XXXXX XX X X Black-baclced Woodpecka· XX X XXX Thrcc-1OC:d Woodpecka· X X X XXX Great Cra;t.ed Fl y~tcbcr • X X X Tree Swallow • X X PwpIeManin· X X Black-capped Chickadee· X X X X Boreal Ckickadee • XX X X TuflCd Tiunouac • XX X X WhiIe-breaslCd NUlhatch • XXX X X X Red-breaslCd Nuthatch· XXX XX X X BrownCrcc:pa XXX X XX X HouseWrm • X XX X X XX <o Winla' Wrm X X X t"' c::: Carolina Wrm X X s:: tzl Eastern Bluebird· X X X X X X X o Z European Slarling X X X X c::: s:: tl:J tzl • Denotes obligate cavity nesters :l:l 1.0 w Principle Sources: Bent 1938, 1939, 1948; Thomas et a11979; Scott et a11977 CJl 96 secondary cavity-nesters are very of Sherborne, Stanhope, Ridout, selective in their choice of a cavity to Havelock and Hindon townships in the point of becoming dependent Muskoka D.M. and Haliburton upon a particular species of primary County. Forty-four stands (978 hal excavator. For example, both representing a variety of hardwood Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) and conifer forest types typical of the (Bellrose 1976; Scott et al. 1977; and Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Forest Harrison 1984) and American Kestrel Region were surveyed. The stands (Falco sparverius) (Scott et al. 1977) ranged in age from 80 to 160 years have demonstrated a distinct and varied in disturbance history preference for abandoned Common (managed forests and those which are Flicke!" nesting sites. In order for relatively undisturbed from logging cavity-nesting birds to perform their and fire were included in the study). role in the forest ecosystem, they Stands were sampled by cruising must be provided with suitable a continuous strip 10 m wide in a zig­ nesting habitat in the form of snags. zag formation throughout the stand resulting in a sampling intensity of Snags in Ontario Forests 5%. For the purposes of this survey, We seem to know a great deal snags were defined as standing dead about cavity-nesting species, but very trees greater then 10.2 cm in little is known about the snags which diameter at breast height (1.4 m) and provide the nesting substrate critical greater than 1.8 m in height. For each to the reproductive success of these snag encountered, the following species. Insufficient knowledge of the information was recorded: species, role snags play in meeting the diameter, height, state of requirements of cavity-using wildlife decomposition (whether hard or soft), in Ontario has in the past forced and presence of excavated cavities. resource managers to develop habitat prescriptions based upon studies Results conducted in the northeastern United The mean density of snags per States. Concern for the lack of hectare of all stands surveyed was information on snags prompted the 53.1 snags/ha (range 16.3-97.3). Ontario Ministry of Natural Stands dominated by intolerant Resources to conduct a study to species, white birch (Betula determine the abundance and papyrifera) and poplars (Populus spp.), characteristics of snags in stands had the highest average density of representing various forest types. I snags. Undisturbed stands had the was involved in this study and would lowest average number of snags per like to present a brief summary of the hectare. White pine (Pinus strobus) results from the report (MacDonald and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) 1990). represented the most abundant snag species. Seventy-five percent of the Methods snags recorded were within the The survey was conducted during 10.2-25.4 cm diameter class. the summer of 1989 within the Leslie Undisturbed stands contained M. Frost Natural Resource Centre proportionally more large-diameter management unit encompassing parts ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 1992 97 Figure 1: Pileated Woodpeckers on snag. Drawing by Chris Kerrigan. VOLUME 10 NUMBER 3 98 snags (»50 cm) than any other forest type. Large-diameter snags were utilized most frequently in relation to their abundance. Cavities excavated in live trees were found mainly in white pine and sugar maple. Discussion The availability of suitable nesting habitat is critical to the reproductive success of all cavity­ nesters. Numerous studies indicate that cavity-nesting species densities are strongly correlated with snag density (Balda cited by Back 1979; Land et al. 1989; Howard et al. 1986; Zarnowitz and Manual 1985; Rapheal and White 1984). Snag density in the stands surveyed is similar to that reported in the United States by Carey (1983) who found that snag densities ranged from 22.4-55.1/ha in maple/beech/birch forests with old growth stands having the lowest density. Cavity-nesting bird density is also closely correlated with the density of large-diameter snags (Rapheal and White 1984). Most species which nest in snags have individual requirements regarding snag diameter. For example, Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) Figure 2: Northern Hawk Owl in nest require snags »35 cm in diameter cavity. Drawing by Mark Reeder. (Peck and James 1983). Large diameter snags are capable of Reduction of available snags may supporting the greatest number of result in increased competition for snag-dependent species. A large­ nesting sites, poor reproductive diameter snag with limbs intact can success, and heavier dependence provide a nesting site in the trunk for upon artificial nesting structures. species which require large cavities European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) (e.g. Pileated Woodpecker). while are known to be aggressive providing sites for cavities in the competitors with the Common branches for species which require Flicker, Bufflehead, Yellow-bellied smaller-diameter substrate, e.g. Sapsucker, House Wren (Troglodytes Black-capped Chickadee (Parus aedon) and numerous other species atricapillus). for nesting cavities. Competition may ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 1992 99 also result from mammals which Natural Resources guidelines require cavities to raise their young, regarding snags in timber e.g. flying squirrels (Glaueomys spp.). management in the study area If sufficient cavities are not available, (Central Region) require that a some species may be forced to minimum of 6 cavity trees greater excavate or build their own nests.
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