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Nest selection by red-headed woodpeckers across three spatial scales in an urban environment

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Abstract

Forest habitat is important for a variety of woodpecker species, and is under pressure from urbanization. Red-headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus; RHWO) were once abundant across Eastern North America, and their populations have been declining since the 1960s. Their distribution encompasses urban centers, and since urban habitats differ from natural forest areas, our goal was to understand RHWO nest-site selection in an urban context. We addressed two main questions 1) what are the characteristics of RHWO nest selection across multiple spatial scales and 2) how do RHWO nest tree characteristics in city parks compare to those in forest preserves? This work was done in Cook County, IL, which includes Chicago, the third-largest city in the USA by population. We examined 34 RHWO nest trees used between 2010 and 2013, their surrounding habitat, and the landscape within a 1 km radius. Used trees and habitats were compared to paired unused trees and habitats, and landscape-scale characteristics were compared to random locations. Advanced decay of the nest tree, low canopy cover and increased presence of fungus on trees in the surrounding habitat were the best predictors of RHWO nesting in the area. Nests were most commonly found in forested areas outside of dense urban areas. However, we did not detect significant differences in the characteristics of the nest trees located in forest preserves and city parks. Our findings are consistent with nest selection studies in rural and natural areas, suggesting that forest habitats in metropolitan landscapes can support RHWO nesting.

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Acknowledgments

We thank J. Pollock and the Audubon Chicago Region for providing us with data on RHWO nest sites and assistance throughout this endeavor, Dr. H. Cooke for method assistance, and as Drs. S. Magle and D. Meritt, Jr. for guidance and support. This research was funded by a grant from the Illinois Ornithological Society as well as the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Science and Health at DePaul University. GIS analysis would not have been possible without guidance from D. Semitekol. Special thanks as well to M. Lordon, A. Grecco, L. Holden, and C. Anderson for assistance with field work.

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  1. Elsa C. Anderson

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor St. MC 066, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, 2325 N. Clifton Ave., Chicago, IL, 60614, USA

    Elsa C. Anderson & Jalene M. LaMontagne

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  1. Elsa C. Anderson
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  2. Jalene M. LaMontagne
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Correspondence to Elsa C. Anderson.

Appendices

Appendix A

Table 7

Table 7 Characteristics of individual focal trees that contained RHWO nests (n = 34) and random controls (n = 204)
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Appendix B

Table 8

Table 8 Location of RHWO cavity nests on trees (n = 53 cavities)
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Anderson, E.C., LaMontagne, J.M. Nest selection by red-headed woodpeckers across three spatial scales in an urban environment. Urban Ecosyst 19, 297–314 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-015-0491-3

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