Yakama Nation Fisheries
TFW-Wildlife
TFW-Wildlife
CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS
In 2009, we focused our research further and continued studying the reproductive ecology of Hairy and White-headed Woodpeckers only. With this new direction, we are currently conducting detailed observations at nest cavities in order to document nestling feeding rates, determining if male and female differences exist in regards to parental care, and documenting prey species brought back to nestlings. This has been pretty exciting research but also labor intensive. At each woodpecker nest, we conduct detailed observations during 2 hour time periods with a spotting scope; once when chicks are 1-13 days old and once when chicks are 14-26 days old. In addition to the nestling feeding rate data, this has yielded some interesting observations; such as how woodpeckers react to potential nest predators.
We
have also begun partnering with the
Puget Sound Bird Observatory
in an attempt to begin banding adult White-headed Woodpeckers with color
bands in order to identify individual birds on territories.
White-headed Woodpeckers are year round residents (they do not
migrate) and thus we have been curious to see how long adult birds
persist on territories.
Woodpeckers are also one of the few small bodied birds that can be aged
up to 4 years post hatching.
Capturing and banding birds on known territories will allow us to
determine the age structure of the population and also determine
longevity of adults. We
attempted to jump start this project in 2010, but due to logistical
complications, we failed to capture any birds.
We hope to have this research project get underway, with actual
banded birds, during the 2011 field season while continuing the detailed
nestling feeding observations. We
hope to begin writing up our results from the nestling feeding rate
observations at the end of the 2011 field season so stay tuned!
