Habitat selection and reproductive success of Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) at its northern limit.

ABSTRACT: Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) has experienced population declines in both Canada and the United States and in 2010 was assigned a national listing of threatened in Canada. We conducted a two-year study (2004-2005) of this species at its northern range limit, the South Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. Our main objective was to determine whether the habitat features that influenced nest-site selection also predicted nest success, or whether other factors (e.g. cavity dimensions, clutch initiation date or time of season) were more important. Nest tree decay class, density of suitable cavities and total basal area of large trees were the best predictors of nest-site selection, but these factors were unrelated to nesting success. Estimates of demographic parameters (mean ± S

SUBMITTER: Zhu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3445559 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature