Management Techniques For The Red-cockaded Woodpecker On Federal Lands :: essays research papers

Management Techniques For The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker On Federal LandsABSTRACTThe red-cockaded tool (genus Picoides borealis) has been listed as an endangeredspecies since October, 1970. This species inhabits pine forests in thesoutheastern United States where the absolute majority of prime timberland is insularlyowned. Private ownership of preferred habitat and historically destructivesilvicultural practices create unique problems for federal wildlife managers.This report analyzes trio management techniques being used to assess andaugment red-cockaded tool populations on federal lands in the region,primarily military installations. Seeking cooperation between various(a)government agencies, wildlife managers attempt to accurately assess speciesabundance, alter woodpecker nesting cavities, and wee-wee nest sites in aneffort to enhance red-cockaded woodpecker habitat on limited federal holdings inthe American southeast.Key words Picoides borealis, Global Positioning System, Geo graphic InformationSystem, cavity trees, cavity restrictors     The red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) is an endangered speciesthat inhabits pine forests in an historical cultivate from Texas to the Atlantic sloping trough (Jackson, 1986 Reed et al., 1988). Picoides borealis nest in clans orfamily groups that usually represent of one breeding pair and 2 non-breeding malehelpers (Jackson, 1986 ). This group establishes and defends a territory thatincludes hunt habitat and nesting "cavity trees" (Copeyon et al., 1991Jackson et al., 1986 Rossell and Gorsira, 1996). Red-cockaded woodpeckerclans hollow cavities in living pines, and have established a living andforaging routine in conjunction with the southeastern pine forests and thehistorical item of fire, which reduces hardwood understory while sparingfire-resistant pines (Jackson, 1986). Much of the prime nesting and foraginghabitat for this species has been systematically eliminated due to dev elopment,timber harvest and intensive fire forbiddance (Jackson, 1986). The emergenceof dense hardwood understory and midstory as a result of fire crushing inred-cockaded woodpecker habitat has resulted in the abandonment of many otherwise undisturbed areas (Jackson, 1986 Kelly et al., 1993).     The red-cockaded woodpecker has been listed as endangered since 1970(Federal Register, 1970 as cited by Ertep and Lee, 1994). foursome requirementsfor sustained red-cockaded woodpecker populations that are lacking in thespecies historical range are identified as critical to species stabilization andrecovery 1.) have pine forests with shade tolerant understory controlled bycyclical fire seasons 2.) former(a) growth Pinus palustrus hoary > 95 years and Pinustaeda aged > 75 years 3.) Approximately 200 acres for nesting group or clan4.) Multiple clans per area to maintain genetic stability and discrepancy(Jackson, 1986). The opportunity to establish or preserve the se habitatqualities on private timberland is largely lost due to historical harvestpractices and development, and search on expanding populations on federal