I couldn't help but recognize the color-band combination of the Red-cockaded
Woodpecker that Keith photographed and posted earlier this week (message below)
so I thought I would share a short history. That is an 8-year old male that
became a breeder at Piney Grove in 2008. He ranks third in seniority after two
12 yr. old birds. He initially paired with a first time breeding female in
2008 and the two have remained together at the same site since that time. The
pair has produced 12 fledgling birds over the past 4 years and is currently
brooding 4 chicks that are still in the nest. Those chicks should fledge this
week.
In addition, this pair has become grandparents after two of the young they have
fledged have also reared young at different Piney Grove sites.
I still remember the first venture of the photographed male into the breeding
territory he now holds. In 2007, that site was occupied by another pair that
was brooding 1 chick. The photographed male flew up to the nest and peered in
the cavity entrance. The intrusion was not taken kindly by the breeding pair
and he was roughly chased off by that territorial male. The following year he
became the breeder at that site and the rest is history.
Overall, the Piney Grove population of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers is numerically
dominated by young birds that are 1-2 yrs. old. We observe that the average
length of time that birds are retained in the population is only 2.5 years. So
there is a high amount of population turnover that is maintained by annual
reproduction. However, birds that reach breeding status stay longer and are
retained for an average of 6.5 years.
We are reaching the tail end of the 2012 breeding season and will post a report
on the Piney Grove woodpeckers soon.
Michael Wilson
Center for Conservation Biology
College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
phone: 757-221-1649
fax: 757-221-1650
email: mdwils@xxxxxx
web: www.ccb-wm.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Keith and Karen Roberts [mailto:kroberts38@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 9:38 PM
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Va-bird] Piney Grove Preserve
My wife and I took a trip with the Virginia Beach Audubon to Warbler Road.
Although the road was closed we were still able to see a lot of birds which I
will post the list as soon as it is completed. Getting to the point on the way
back we decided to stop by Piney Grove and saw a Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.
Thought it was worthy of posting also took a few pictures that I posted on my
flicker account below.
Keith
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kroberts38/
_______________________________________________
va-bird mailing list
http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird
Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of
Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO.
http://www.virginiabirds.net/
