An increase in population of red-cockaded woodpeckers

Abstract

Once abundant in pine forests of the southern United States, the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) was identified as endangered in 1968 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1968), and was officially listed as such in 1970 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1970). The species received full protection of the law with passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973. Attempts at managing the bird to improve its status began in the mid-1960's (Beland 1971) and have increased steadily. Despite 2 decades of effort, however, significant declines and even extirpations of red-cockaded woodpecker populations have continued (Baker 1983, Carter et al. 1983, Jackson 1987, Ortego and Lay 1988, Conner and Rudolph 1989, Costa and Escano 1989, Walters 1990).

Citation

Hooper, Robert G.; Krusac, Dennis L.; Carlson, Danny L. 1991. An increase in population of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 19(3): 277-286.