Looking out for the pileated woodpecker.

Noreen Parks

Treesearch

Looking out for the pileated woodpecker.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Noreen Parks

Year:

2009

Type:

Science Findings

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Source:

Science Findings 109. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 5 p.

Download (PDF 1.23 MB)

Download (PDF 1.23 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/31848.pdf

Abstract

The pileated woodpecker is a species of conservation concern and a keystone species in mature and old forests of the Pacific Northwest. In the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon, researchers from the PNW Research Station in La Grande, Oregon, studied the effects of natural and human-caused disturbance on pileated populations and their habitat over a period spanning from 1973 to 2005. During this time, several pervasive insect outbreaks transformed the forest characterized by predominantly live conifers with dense canopy cover (prime pileated habitat) to one with increasing numbers of snags and downed wood. Logging for forest restoration and fuel reduction treatments also took place, further impacting habitat for the birds.

Citation

Parks, Noreen. 2009. Looking out for the pileated woodpecker. Science Findings 109. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 5 p.