Second Population

Did you know Virginia has 8 species of woodpeckers, including the endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker?  Most Virginians have never seen an RCW.  That is because our State has just one breeding population.  These 50 or so RCWs live deep inside Piney Grove nestled in Sussex County.  Their decline has been attributed to the loss of habitat, specifically mature pine forests.  Pines (over 80 years old) are preferred because the inner wood is softer.  Softer wood helps with cavity excavations.  RCWs are the only species of woodpeckers to nest in live trees.

Piney Grove, 2014

Some confuse the RCW for Downy or Hairy Woodpeckers.  All three are black and white; but the rare RCWs are medium-sized and have an entirely white cheek.

                      Downy and Hairy Woodpecker.*                                     RCW**
Photos borrowed from:
*http://feederwatch.org/wp-content/themes/feederwatch/img/features/tricky-ids/woodpecker-size.jpg

**https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-cockaded_woodpecker

Second Population

Biologists and volunteers have been preparing an area of the Great Dismal Swamp.  If all goes well, it will host our state's second population of RCWs!  Four adjacent quadrants in the southeast corner of the Dismal Swamp were identified.  Each quadrant is a square mile and already possesses the requisite mature pines.  Screened nesting boxes have been installed high in several trees in each quadrant.

Dismal Swamp's Screened Nesting Cavities, 10/17/2015

Biologists in North Carolina and South Carolina have studied their populations to identify 8 young adults, 4 males and 4 females.  The 8 are being translocated from North Carolina and South Carolina to the Dismal Swamp one night this week. Then, just after midnight, the famous feathered 8 will each be placed in one nesting cavity and screened-in until dawn.  One male and one female will be in each of the four quadrants.  

Before daybreak, the biologists and volunteers will be poised underneath the eight trees.  On a wing and a prayer, so to speak, we will wait until the birds start communicating to each other.  When they do, the screens will be removed; and the birds will be free to meet each other, their neighbors and survey the Dismal Swamp Refuge.

Ladders, stacked - to nesting cavities, 10/17/2015

RCWs are keystone species, playing the vital role of primary cavity nesters.  At least 27 other species (insects, birds, snakes, lizards, squirrels and frogs) have been documented using cavities abandoned by RCWs.  Abandonment occurs for a variety of reason, including cavity entrances becoming enlarged - sometimes by Pileated Woodpeckers.

RCWs are known to fly up to 400 miles; so it is conceivable that any of the 8 could fly north 70 miles to Piney Grove... or fly south (back to North and South Carolina). Despite its name though, the Great Dismal Swamp is a wonderfully hospitable place of refuge for many invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.  Especially birds.
- - - - - 
Next Post:  Translocation