In Proc. of the first South Carolina Endangered Species Symp. Nov. 11-~2, 1976, cfiarleston, s. C. S. C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Dept. and The Citadel. Dennis M. Forsythe and Wm. Bruce Ezell, Jr., Eds. 1979. p. 151-158.

THE RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER: MANAGEMENT RESEARCH NEEDS

Michael R. Lennartz Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Forest Service Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina 29631

Robert G. Hooper Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Forest Service Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina 296~31

Richard F. Harlow Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Forest Service Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina 29631

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis), a species endemic to mature pine forests of the PRESENT KNOWLEDGE AND Southern United States, was officially classified as an SPECULATION endangered species in 1969 (U.S. Department of the Interior 1969). Under the Endangered Species Act of Concern had ~n expressed about the survival of 1973, Federal agencies are required to protect and the Red-cockaded Woodpecker for many years prior manage all endangered species and to insure that to its legal classification 88 an endangered species in land management activities do not adversely affect 1969. As early as 1939, Murphey ( 1939) felt that their habitats. Various forest management lumbering practices in the South were destroying its organizations, most notably 8 of the Forest habitat and eliminating the species from certain Service, have developed policies and guidelines for portions of its range. Over the next 30 years, managing Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Because of investigators throughout the species' range echoed the the scant information on habitat requirements, the same concern ( RurleiKh 1958; Lay and Russell 1970; effectiveness of guidelines to protect and perpetuate Ligon 1970; Sprunt and Chamberlain 1949). this species is controversial. Resolution of the The habitat destruction referrt-d to was the loss of controversy, however, is the key to the woodpecker's mature southern pines infected by the heart rot known survival. as red heart (Phellinus pini, fonnerly Fornes pini); In hopes that more information and awareness will such trees are selected by the woodpecker for enhance the Red-cockaded Woodpecker's chances for construction of nesting and roosting cavities. survival, we shall discuss three topics here: what is Investigators noted that as forest management presently known about the woodpecker's habitat became more intensive, old-growth timber was being requirements; where we feel critical information is harvested at an auelerated rate and replaced by lacking; and what is being done to fill the stands managed on relatively short rotations (20 to 30 information void. years for pulpwood and 40 to 60 years for sawtimber).

151 If provisions were not made to protect and rot in trees with completed cavities, we agree with r continually replace the old-growth stands required by ,Jackson that the cOt'xistence of the birds and the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers for breeding habitat, the fungus does not seem to be one of chance. I species would be faced with steadily diminishing In addition to characterizing individual cavity habitat and probable future extinction. trees, several investigators have described habitat Increased public interest prompted the Bureau of conditions in the stand (aggregation of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in cooperation with thl:' individual cavity lrt•es). Howe\'er, few investigators Tall Timbers Research Station to sponsor a have quantified habitat charal'teristics; rather, most symposium on the ecology and management of thl:' ha,·e 4uant ified only a limited number of vegetative Red-cockaded Woodpecker. The symposium variables. Thus, it is difficult to determine what st ;ind (Thompson 1971) summarized practically all rnnditions are preferred by Red-cockaded information publu:.hed on the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. In Virginia, Steirly (1957) always Woodpeckrr prior to 1970. The proceedings are an found rwst ini,t sites in relatively dense stands of pine excellent compendium of what is known about this 70 years old nr older; these stands always had dense speciei-. At the same time, topics excluded from the understories of shrubs and saplings of deciduous symposium emphasize critical information voids. t rt.>t'S. In contrast, Bt•ckt•tt ( 1971 ), Hoj)kins and Lynn Of the 17 technical papers presented at the (1971 ), Jones and Ott (1973), Lay and Russell (1970), I symposium, 8 dealt mainly with characteristics of Ligon 11970), and Morse (1972) found the woodpecker cavity trees and colony stands, and only 1 ( Crosby in open, park-like stands of mature pines with sparse l 1971) discussed habitat needs outside the breeding understories. Subjective terms such as "dense,'' colony. Consequently, the woodpecker's specialized "sparse," "heavy," and "open" are imprecise, but it nesting and roosting habits have been well described. appears that clans can exist under various stand con­ With rare exception (Jackson 1971; J. W. McMinn, ditions if suitable cavity trees are available. He­ USDA For. Serv., Savannah River Plant, Aiken, S.C., i-earrhers who quantified habitat characteristics pers. commun., 1976), Red-cockaded Woodpeckers ( Hopkins and Lynn 1971; 'Thompson and Baker 1971) excavate their cavity in mature, living pines. Loblolly found altive in stands ranging from 10 to 150 (Pinw, taeda L. ), longleaf (P. palustri.-; Mill.), short­ ft 1 of hasa I area. I leaf P. echinata Mill.), pond (P. serotina Michx.) and Although understory conditions probably affect the pitch (P. rigida Mill.) pines are all used as cavity treet1, suitability of a Mtand as a colony site, it is not known hut the vast majority of cavities have been found in what cnnditions are acceptable, tolerable, or loblolly and long leaf pines (Hopkins and Lynn 1971; preferable. Beckett (1971) thought the birds would I Jackson in press; Jones and Ott 1973; Lay and abandon the cavity if the understory reached the l Russell 1970; Ligon 1970; Steirly 1957). In many height of the entrance. Most biologists have accepted areas two or more of the southern pines occur together this opinion, but it has not been validated with in mixed or adjacent stands, but there is no evidence published data. Jerome A. Jackson (Miss. State Univ., that the woodpeckers have a preft>,rence for one species pers. commun., 1976) feels that a certain amount of I! ; over another. shrub and hardwood understory is preferable to a low, i Cavity trees are generally infected by red ht>art open (grass-forb-shruh) understory. He contends that fungus, but the relationship of the fungus to cavity greater vegetative diversity in the understory will tree selection and cavity excavation by Red-rncka

152 r- 1, I,

maximum of 167 acres. Lay ( 1973) later suggestt>d t1w• selection, but it has not yet betn clearly that a clan's home range should be considered as 1:!0 explained. Whether or not the fungus is actually to 160 acres. In Florida, Ligon (1970) noted that rl'qllired for successful <"avity excavation may well individual birds moved as far as 0.8 mile from the dt.'tt,rmine the rotation length necessary to provide cavity tree, an indication that the home range could suitable nest sites for this species. be quite large. In South Carolina, Beckett ( 197 4) The structure and composition of the understory estimated that the average area of use is 213 acres per ma.v also influence the suitability of a stand as a clan or 40 acres per bird. rolon:-· site. However, no quantitative data is All of these estimates were arrived at indiret·tly hy available on the quantity and type of understory that observing the spatial arrangement of colonies, the is acceptable, tolerable or preferred as nesting habitat. distances between colonies, or the density of colonies Studies are also needed to determine what forest in a circumscribed study area. Thus, at best, they stand rnnditions are selt·1·ted for foraging and how provide weak indices of the area used by a clan of much of such habitat is required to support woodpeckers. One clan followed by Baker ( 1971 ) ust>d woodpl'l'ker elans of various sizes. Studies of habitat an area of approximately 162 acres during the period sdt·\·tion, b:-· themselves, will pro\'llle only partial of observation, but on any given day they used only answers. Such studies must be linked with those on about a third of this total area. Two clans studit•d by lm>t>ding biology a11d behavior to dt•tnmine how Crosby ( 1971) over a 5-month period used areas of habitat variability affects rt.'production and survival :35.5 and 49.3 acres. In South Carolina, Skorupa and among woodpet·kt'r dans. We know, for example, that Mcfarlane (in press) have reported on the seasonal tht·re is variation in the number of young fledged in movements of two woodpecker clans. One clan cl iffl'rent woodpecker clans ( Baker 1971: Lay 197:l; foraged over 39 acres in the summer and 8:1 acn•s in Ligon 1970: T. A. Beckett, Magnolia Gardens, the winter, and the second covered 45 acres in the Charleston, S. C., pers. commun., 19,6: ,J. A ..Jackson, summer and 78 acres in the winter. Overlapping the pns. commun., Wifi). Ligon ( 1970) has suggested that winter and summer ranges, the total area covered hy this variation ma:-· be a funl'tion of habitat quality. the first clan was 92 acres and that of the second was Ligon ( I !170) and Lay (197:3) have abo shown that 90 acres. brt•eding pHirs with ht·lpers fledge more young than a Although the latter three studies provide tht• most bn•t>ding pair alone. Presumably, g11od habitat could reliable estimate of home range, they are limitt>d in ;:.upport larger dans, which in turn ('Ollld fledge more scope (five clans) and do not identify the types of young. Ligon ( 1970) thought the second-growth habitat selected by the woodpeckers for foraging. st ands in his area Wl'rl' ,;ubopt imal for foraging and While it is logical to assume that home ranges vary ft.t'r study to determine the re lat ions hips ht•twt·en habitat selettion, clan size, and The studies cited have provided much important produrtivit,v i:-1 urgently needed if we are to information on the characteristics of cavity trees ust>d unch•rstand this species' habitat requirements and bv Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and on the habitat in thus pro\'ide a sounder base for its management. the immediate vicinity of cavity trees. However, the colony stand represents only a small portion of the FOREST SERVICE RESEARCH habitat used by a woodp('("ker dan. Thus, we must EFFORTS study the habitat elements selected by the woodpeckers throughout their home range if we are to In response to tht•iw information needs, the USDA understand and provide for their total habitat Fon·st Servi('e in 197;> f'!'tahlished a wilrilife research requirements. unit at Clemson, South Carolina, to study the habitat Although we are most knowledgeable about thl' requirements ofth,· l{ed-cockaded Woodpecker. A species' breeding habitat, some important questions compreht•nsive resear('h prohrram has bet•n have been only partially answert>d .There appears to implemented to answer ~ome of the questions that be a relationship between red heart funp1s and cavit:-· ha n· ht•t•n ra ist•d. Twenty active Red-cockaded Woodpecker colonies with investig.ators in other areas to cover the desired have been selected in forest stands representative of range of habitat conditions. the range of habitat conditions occupied by the Dr Gene Wood, Clemson University, is studying species. The primary study area is on the Francis habitat sele<:tion and productivity of Red-cn<·kadt'd Marion National Forest in Berkeley and Charleston Woodpeckers in old-growth stands at Hobcaw , South Carolina. Because this area has one , Georgetown , S. C. Since some of the largest concentrations of Red-cockaded authorities feel large tracts of old-growth trees Woodpeckers in the South, it offers the opportunity provide optimum habitat for this species, the Hob(·aw for studying a large number of woodpecker clans area is an especially important study site. under a variety of habitat conditions. Clans may also In Mississippi. Dr. Jerome Jackson has been he studied on the Sumter National Forest in South studying woodpecker colonies for several ye,trs on the Carolina and the Croatan and Uwharrie National Noxubee Wildlife Refuge. Several of the colonies on Forests in North Carolina. :,,.;nxubee are in pine stands with dense, encroaching In each colony selectPd, plots have ht>t>n estahlisht'(l hardwood underi,;tories. Also on Noxubee are a around cavity trees so that vegetative com posit ion considerable number of abandoned woodpecker and structure can be quantifit.>d. Adults and lll•st Iings colon it's, mak~ng this study area particularly suitable in each colony are distinctively banded to aid in for studying the relationship between understory identification of specific clans and individuals. structure and cavity abandonment. During the course Nesting cavities are inspected periodicall~· to of his investigations at Noxubee, Dr. Jackson has determine the chronology and success of hret•ding. cl ist inrt ively banded approximately if> Red-cockadt-leded for foraging. social strudure of Red-cockaded Woodpecker clans. As hon\e rang<'s are delineated, plots are est ahlisht-d A coo1wrative 11turly with Dr. Jackson is l'Xll'nding both in vegetative communities sele<:ted and in those hot h lines of investigation, i.e., habitat selet·tion and avoided by the woodpeckers. In hoth types of social behavior. communities, vegetative composition and structure is The information derived from these studies on sampled quantitatively. Appropriate anal)tical habitat requirements l'-hould provide the biological techniques will be employed to determine the base for evaluating and managing habitats for Red­ relationships between habitat utilization, clan co<'kaded Woodpeckers. Recovery of this species, productivity, and parameters of the selected stands or however, will depend on whether forest managers habitats. provide for the woodpecker's requirements in their The total research program is outlined in Figure 1. land management activities. Since the woodpecker's The major research goal (to determine the habitat future is linked to the availability of suitable habitat, requirements of the Red-cockaded Woodpet·ker) hai­ the only way to assess the species' ~tat us is to develop been broken down into an ordered sequence of a system for monitoring the trends in forest habitats objectives which must be achieved to accomplish the across its range. overall goal. A list of prospective studies and a Although this is a large task, it is by no means schedule of study implementation are included in the impossible. Every 10 years, the Forest Survey units of Appendix. the Southeastern and Southern Forest Experiment To determine the range of habitat conditions St Rt ions complete their inventory of all forest lands in selected by Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and to the South. During these surveys, statistics are determine how habitat variability affet1s compiled and analyzed on forest acreages and types productivity, we must study the birds over the widest and on stand ages and conditions. As we learn more possible range of habitat conditions. Although the about the woodpecker and are able to quantify Francis Marion National Forest has active habitat parameters, we are working with the Survey woodpecker colonies in a wide range of forest stand units to estimate the amount and distribution of forest conditions.certain habitats are not available for lands suitable as Red-cockaded Woodpecker habitat. study. Logistically, it is impossible for Forest Service Since the surveys are a continuing effort, we should be personnel at Clemson to select additional study siks; able to assess habitat trends over time. Ultimately, cooperative studies have therefore been developed the reliability of our estimates will depend on how

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Figure I .--Objectives of Red

155 well we understand and are able to quantify the Lay, D. W. 1973. Job Completion report, Job. No. 10, habitat parameters involveci. Red-cockaded Woodpecker study. Texas Parks & Wildl. Dep., Austin, Tx.

LITERATURE CITED Lay, D. W., and D. N. Russell. 1970. Notes on the Red­ cockaded Woodpecker in Texas. Auk 87:781-786. Baker, W. W. 1971. Progress report on life history studies of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker at Tall Tim­ Ligon, J. D. 1970. Behavior and breeding biology of bers Research Station. In R. L. Thompson (ed.), The the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Auk 87:255-278. ecology and management of the Red-cockaded Wood­ Ligon, J. D. 19il. Some factors influencing numbers pecker, P. 44-59. USDI Bur. Sport Fish. &. Wild!. of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. In R. L. Thompson and Tall Timbers Res. Stn., Tallahassee, Fl. (ed.), The ecoh,gy and management of the Red­ Beckett, T. A., III. 197 l. A summary of Red-rnckaded cockaded Woodpecker, p. 30-43. USDI Bur. Sport Woodpecker observations in South Carolina. In R. L. Fish. & Wildl. and Tall Timbers Res. Stn., Thompson (ed.), The ecology and management of the Talluhassee, Fl. Red-cockaded Woodpecker, p. 87-95. USDI Bur. Morse, D. H. 1972. Habitat utilization of the Red­ Sport Fish. & Wildl. and Tall Timbers Res. Stn., cockaded Woodpecker. Auk 89:429-435. Tallahassee, Fl. Murphey, E. E. 1939. Dryobates borea[i..'! (Vieillot). /n Beckett, T. A. III. 1974. Habitat acreage requirements A. C. Bent, Life histories of North American wood­ of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. EBBA News peckers. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 174:72-79. 37(1):3-7. Skorupa, J. P., and R. W. McFarlane. I In press. l Burleigh, T. D. 1958. Georgia birds. Univ. Okla. Prt-ss, Seasonal variation in foraging territory of Red­ Norman. 7 46 p. cockaded Woodpeckers. Wilson Bull. Crosby, G. T. 1971. Home range characteristics of the Sprunt, A., Jr., and E. B. Chamberlain. 1949. South Red-cockaded Woodpecker in north-central Florida. Carolina bird life. Univ. S.C. Press, Columbia. 571 p. In R. L. Thompson (ed.), The ecology and manage­ ment of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, p. 60-73. Steirly, C. C. 1957. Nesting ecology of the Red­ USDI Bur. Sport Fish. & Wildl. and Tall Timbers cockaded Woodpecker in Virginia. Atl. Nat. 12:280- Res. Stn., Tallahassee, Fl. 292.

Hopkins, M. L., and T. E. Lynn. 1971. Some charac­ Thompson, R. L. (ed.). 1971. The ecology and man­ teristics of Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees agement of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. USDI and management implications in South Carolina. In Bur. Sport Fish & Wildt. and Tall Timbers Res. Stn., R. L. Thompson (ed.), The ecology and management Tallahassee, Fl. 188 p. of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, p. 140-169. USDI Bur. Sport Fish. & Wildl. and Tall Timbers Res. Stn., Thompson, R. L., and W.W. Baker. 1971. A survey of Tallahassee,Fl. Red-cockaded Woodpecker habitat requirements. In R. L. Thompson (ed.), The ecology and management Jackson, J. A. 1971. The evolution, taxonomy, dis­ of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, p. 170-188. USDI tribution, past populations, and current status of the Bur. Sport Fish. & Wildl. and Tall Timbers Res. Stn., Red-cockaded Woodpecker. In R. L. Thompson (ed.), Tallahassee, Fl. The ecology and management of the Red-rnckaded Woodpecker, p. 4-29. USDI Bur. Sport Fish. & Wildl. U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secre­ and Tall Timbers Res. Stn., Tallahassee, Fl. tary. 1969. Native fish and wildlife: List of en­ dangered species. U.S. Fed. Regist. 34(46):5033- Jackson, J. A. !In Press.I Red-cockaded Woodpe<:kers 505 l. :f.R. Doc. 69-2811, March 7, 1969.l and Red heart disease of pines. Auk. Jones, J. K., Jr., and F. T. Ott. 1973. Some charac­ teristics of Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees in Georgia. The Oriole 38(4):33-39.

156 r

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APPENDIX: STUDY SCHEDULE

Study Title Schedule Study plan lmplt'mentation Data collection and analysis Fore•t Service Studlea Characteristica ol cavity treee and colony iaita selected by April 1975 October 1975 1975, 1978, 1980 1980 Red-cockaded W oodpeclten Foraging habitat, foragina behavior and home range u1e 1976 May 1976 1976-1980 1980 by Red-cockaded W oodpeclten Vegetative characteristics ol foraging habitats 11elected by April 1976 September 1976 1976-1980 1980 Red-cockaded Woodpecken Feeding rata and reproductive auccet11 of Red-cockaded March 1976 April 1976 1976-1980 19/iO Woodpeckers Heproductive ratea of April 1976 April 1976 1976-1980 1980 Red-cockaded Woodpeckera Relationship of Red-cockaded W oodpeclter reproductive 9Ucceae April 1976 April 1976 1976-191'.iO 1980 to clan aize and clan composition Relationahip of red-heart fungua to cavity tree aelection September 1976 Ot.1obcr 1976 1976-1978 1978 and cavity e:s:cavation by Red-cockaded Woodpeclten Effects of timber harvestina activity on breeding behavior January 19i7 April 1977 1977-1978 1978 and reproductive success ol Red-cockaded W oodpeclten Relationship of population density to reproductive rate& January 1977 St-ptt>mber 1977 1977-1979 1980 of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers

Cooperative •tudie• Social behavior and habitat use of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker April 1976 April 1976 1976-1978 1978 (Jerome Jackson, Miaaiaaippi State University) Red-cockaded Woodpecker/habitat relations in the old-growth forest& March 1976 April 1976 1976-1978 1979 of Hobcaw Barony (Gene Wood, Clemson University) Productivity of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker in relation to colony March 1975 June 1975 1975-1977 1977 stand condition11 in South Carolina (Gene Wood, Clemson Univeniity) Di11tribution of Red-cockaded Woodpecker habitat in the Southeast June 1974 Septt'mber 197 5 1974-1976 1976 (Peter Dreu, University of Georgia) Arthropod biomaaa and diversity usociated with Red-cockaded Woodpecker foraging habitat September 1976 May 1977 1977-1979 1979 (DE'pt. Entomology and Economic Zoology, Clemaon Univeraity)

ADDENDUM has been devoted to endangered and threatened Since the time this paper was presented, the Red­ species, and the Red-cockaded Woodpecker has at­ cockaded Woodpecker has attracted a great deal of re­ tracted the majority of the research attention. Three search attention. Curtis (1978) points out that in the important publications have refined our knowledge of Southeast the majority of research on nongame birds cavity tree selection and habitat conditions in active

157 colony sites. Jackson et al (1979) have reported the and that helpers participate in many nesting activities mean ages of trees in which new cavities are being including incubation and feeding of nestlings. started as ranging from 75 years for loblolly pines, 85 years for pond pine to 95 years for longleaf pine. This information clearly indicates the woodpeckers select LITERATURE CITED older trees for cavity excavation. In North Carolina, Van Balen and Doerr (in press) have provided the Curtis, R. L., Jr. 1978. A representative sample of first quantitative information on the range of hard­ ongoing and planned nongame bird research in the wood stocking and density at active Red-cockaded southeastern region United States. In R. J. DeGraaff Woodpecker colony sites. This and other information (Tech. Coord. ), Proceedings of the workshop manage­ from published and unpublished l!OUrces has been ment of southern forests for nongame birds, synthesized by Lennartz and McClure (in press) into a p. 166-176. USDA For. Serv. Gen. Techn. Rep. SE-14, composite description of habitat conditions at active 176 p. Southeast. For. Exp. Stn., Asheville, N.C. woodpecker rolony sites. Using the habitat description and statistics derived from the periodic Forest Sur­ Harlow, R. F. and M. R. Lennartz. 1977. Foods of nes­ veys, Lennartz and McClure (in press) have shov n tling Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in coastal South that Red-cockaded nesting habitat is very restricted in Carolina. Auk 94: 376-377. the Southeast, and the amount of available nesting Jackson, J. A., M. R. Lennartz, and R. G. Hooper. habitat has steadily diminished over the past 40 years. 1979. Tree age and cavity initiation by Red-cockaded Little additional information has been published on Woodpeckers. J. of For. 77: 102-103. foraging habitat selection. Nesbitt et al (1978) have provided additional information on home range si1.e8, Lennartz. M. R. and R. F. Harlow. 1979. The role of and they have also shown that in Florida the wood­ parent and helper Red-cockaded Woodpeckers at the peckers spend most of their foraging time in pine flat­ nest. Wilson Bull. 91: 331-335. woods habitats. Whether or not Red-cockadeds ex­ hibit a preference while foraging for particular habitat Lennartz, M. R. and J. P. McClure. (In Press). types or stand conditions has not yet been determined. Estimating the extent of Red-cockaded Woodpecker In addition to the habitat studies cited above, Harlow habitat in the Southeast. In Proceedings of the 1979 and Lennartz (1977) have added to the knowledge of workshop on Forest Resource Inventories. Red-cockaded food habits by reporting on foods Nesbitt, S. A., D. T. Gilbert, and 0. B. Barbour. 1978. brought to nestlings. The nestling diet was essentially Red-cockaded Woodpecker fall movements in a 100% animal matter and consisted of a wide array of Florida flatwoods community. Auk 95: 145-151. arthropods. New knowledge on the M>Cial structure and behavior of woodpecker clans (Lennartz and Van Balen, J.B. and P. D. Doerr (In Press). The rela­ Harlow 1979) indicated clans commonly have tionship of undentory vegetation to Red-cockaded helpers; that helpers are generally male offspring of Woodpecker activity. In Proceedings of the thirty-sec­ the breeding pair from previous years; helpers will re­ ond annual conference of the Southeastern Associ­ main with their natal clan for more than one year; ation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. I

158