Ongoing Research
Red-headed Woodpecker Recovery contributes funding to ongoing
research conducted by graduate student, Ari Waldstein (right), at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve.
Last summer Ari and her sister, Sasha, used our new nest camera to take videos of nestling red-heads almost ready to fledge. It was quite difficult holding a swaying 30-foot pole with a tiny camera on the end and inserting the camera into the nest cavities but they succeeded.
The photos below are video stills of Ari and Sasha using the video camera, and of eggs and babies inside nest cavities. Click on this link to see the videos at YouTube.
For the past three years we had suspected the average clutch to be only one or two birds, given how small in diameter most nest limbs were. But Ari's research revealed between three and four young crammed into most cavities. That was quite a surprise.
And that's what research is all about!
Committee members also contribute to the research by searching for nests at Cedar Creek - it's too large an area for Ari to do it all. Last summer, they were able to confirm 42 active nests. That's the most ever! And a big increase over last year.
A Bird in the Hand....
Toward the end of last summer, Ari successfully trapped and banded an adult Red-headed Woodpecker (right). This is our first banded bird! It was captured in Burn Unit 401 not far from Highway 26. So if you're in the vicinity, keep your eyes open for a red-head with yellow and blue plastic bands on its left leg and red and silver bands on its right leg. We plan to continue the color banding program next summer.