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Vital rates can provide important insights into management effects on wildlife populations. However, for many North American birds, especially woodpeckers (Picidae), vital rates are not well documented. Here, we estimated adult annual survival of the White-headed Woodpecker {Dryobates albolarvatus) across a 10 year period (2011-2021) in managed ponderosa pine (Pimts ponderosa) forests along the eastern slope of the Cascade Range in Washington. USA. We banded male and female woodpeckers with unique color band combinations and resighted them on breeding territories from March to July in each year. We banded 116 woodpeckers, most of which we aged as hatch-year (n = 49) or second-year (n = 32) when banded, and all were past the critical dependence period when mortality is highest. We estimated recapture and annual survival probabilities for 33 breeding males and 24 breeding females using open-population Cormack-Jolly-Seber models that included 2 covariates: age at first capture (AGE) and sex (SEX). We combined birds into 3 AGE classes: class 1 (hatchyear), class 2 (second-year and after hatch-year), and class 3 (> after second-year). Female recapture probabilities were higher than males, although both were >0.85. AGE class 1 birds had the lowest recapture probabilities, but the estimates were imprecise. Survival probabilities were >0.X0 for all birds, regardless of which model we evaluated. These survival estimates could be inflated because some adults that are nonbreeders and dispersed from the study area may have lower rates of survival. We did not find any evidence of differences in survival probabilities by SEX or AGE. Our results suggested that, despite managed ponderosa pine stands having trees smaller in diameter and greater in density than historical stands. Whiteheaded Woodpeckers had a high probability of surviving year to year in this forest type. Received 6 February 2022. Accepted 27 April 21)22. Key words: color bands, mark-recapture, pine stands, survival estimates. Washington. Las tasas vitales pueden provcer una vision de los efectos del mancjo en poblaciones de fauna silvestre. Sin embargo, para muchas aves de Nortcamcrica, especialmente para carpinteros (Picidae), dichas tasas vitales no cstan bien documentadas. Aqui estimamos la sobrevivencia anual del carpintero Dryobates albolanatits a lo largo de un pcriodo de 10 afios (2011-2021) en bosques manejados de pino ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa') en la vcrticnte este de la Cordillera Cascade en Washington. EUA. Anillamos machos y hembras de carpintero con combinaciones unicas de anillos dc colorcs y los re-obscrvamos en sus territories reproductivos de marzo-julio de cada afio. Anillamos 116 carpinteros. la mayoria de los cuales determinamos como del primer ano (n = 49) o del segundo ano (n = 32) al momenlo de scranillados y todos habian pasado c! pcriodo de dependencia critica cuando la mortandad es mas aita. Estimamos probabilidadcs dc recaptura y sobrevivencia anual de 33 machos y 24 hembras reproductivos usando modelos Cormack-Jolly-Seber para poblaciones abierias que incluycron 2 eovariables: cdad dc primera captura (AGE) y sexo (SEX). Combinamos cstas aves en 3 clases de AGE: clase 1 (del primer ano). clase 2 (del segundo ano y despues del segundo ano) y clasc 3 (> despues del segundo ano). Las probabilidadcs dc recaptura dc hembras fueron mas altas que las de los machos, aunquc ambas fucron >0.85. Las aves de la clase 1 de AGE tuvieron la mas baja probabilidad de recaptura. aunque estas estimaciones fueron imprecisas. Las probabilidades de sobrevivencia fucron >0.80 para todas las aves. indcpendicntcmcnte del modelo evaluado. Estas estimaciones de sobrevivencia podrian cstar infladas porque algunos adultos que son noreproductivos y se dispersaron del area de estudio podrian tencr tasas de sobrevivencia mas bajas. No encontramos evidencia de difcrencias en la probabilidad de sobrevivencia por SEX o AGE. Nuestros rcsultados sugieren que. si bien las parcelas con plantaciones de pino ponderosa bajo mancjo ticnen arboles dc diametros menores y mayorcs densidades que las parcelas historical cstos carpinteros tiencn una alta probabilidad de sobrevivencia ano con ano en cste tipo dc bosque. Palabras clave: anillos de colores. captura-recaplura. estimaciones de sobrevivencia. parcelas dc pino. Washington., Woodpeckers are keystone species in forest ecosystems because they create cavities and excavations while nesting and foraging that other species use (Blendinger 1999, Aitken and Martin 2007), help to disperse [...]

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Birds are under selective pressure to orient their nests in a direction that reduces the impact of climatic extremes and the risk of the nest being detected by predators. Woodpeckers (Picidae), despite raising young in tree cavities that are safer from predators, should orient the entrances of their nest cavities in a direction that results in a favorable cavity microclimate. Because Picid nest cavity orientation is not well-studied in the Pacific Northwest of North America, we measured nest cavity orientation of White-headed Dryobates albolarvatus, Hairy D. villosus, and Black-backed Picoides arcticus Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus, and Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus within burned and unburned, dry conifer forests of the eastern Cascade Range in Washington, USA (N = 684). Each woodpecker species had a mean angle of nest cavity orientation in a northerly or easterly direction and ranged from 12.3° for the Northern Flicker to 117.6° for the Black-backed Woodpecker. Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, and White-headed Woodpeckers showed strong evidence for nonrandom nest cavity orientation, and Northern Flickers showed particularly high dispersion with a multimodal distribution of cavity orientations. Although the mean and variance of cavity orientations did not differ substantially between woodpeckers, cavity orientation differed based on nest tree species. Woodpeckers may orient their nest cavities in an easterly direction so that cavities warm quicker in the morning, to avoid hot afternoon temperatures and prevailing west and north westerly winds, and because the majority of cavities were located in burned forest where shading from canopy cover is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the association of temporal and spatial factors with nest survival of Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) nesting in tree cavities in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests along the east slope of the Cascade Mountains, Washington. All study areas were managed for timber production through planned harvests or postfire salvage logging. Bluebirds laid a mean clutch of 5.3 [+ or -] 0.1 (SE) eggs (n = 131), and successful nests fledged an average of 4.5 [+ or -] 0.2 young (n = 85). Using a model-selection framework, we found that nest survival was a function of clutch size and treatment and that there was a quadratic effect of nest age. Daily survival rates decreased after the onset of incubation, then increased through the nestling period, and were higher for clutches with [greater than or equal to]5 eggs and in stands that were burned and salvaged. Survivorship over the entire period for clutches (n = 131 nests) with [less than or equal to]4, 5, and [greater than or equal to]6 eggs was 0.39 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.65), 0.61 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.80), and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.85), respectively. Vegetation variables associated with nest sites did not significantly affect nest survival. Predation accounted for the most nest failures (34% of nests). We suggest that parental defense of nests accounts for the quadratic effect of nest age, with adult bluebirds defending nests more aggressively as nestlings approach fledging, and that bluebirds laying larger clutches are older, more experienced birds, resulting in greater nest survival. Key words: cavity-nesting bird, clutch size, nest survival, ponderosa pine, Sialia mexicana, forest burns, Western Bluebird. Examinamos la asociacion entre factores espaciales y temporales con la supervivencia de nidos de individuos de Sialia mexicana que anidan en cavidades de pino ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa) en bosques que se encuentran a lo largo de la ladera este de las montanas Cascade en Washington. Todas las areas de estudio fueron manejadas para la produccion de madera a traves de cosechas programadas o por cortes de aprovechamiento despues de incendios. Los individuos de S. mexicana tuvieron una puesta promedio de 5.3 [+ or -] 0.1 (EE) huevos (n = 131) y los nidos exitosos produjeron en promedio 4.5 [+ or -] 0.2 volantones (n = 85). Utilizando una aproximacion de seleccion de modelos, encontramos que la supervivencia de los nidos estuvo en funcion del tamano de la puesta y del tratamiento, y que hubo un efecto cuadratico de la edad del nido. Las tasas de supervivencia diaria de los nidos disminuyeron despues del inicio de la incubacion, luego aumentaron durante el periodo de pichones y fueron mayores para nidos con puestas de mas de 5 huevos y en parches de bosque que fueron quemados y reaprovechados. La supervivencia a lo largo de todo el periodo para las puestas (n = 131 nidos) con [menor que o igual a]4, 5 y [mayor que o igual a]6 huevos fue de 0.39 (95% IC: 0.11, 0.65), 0.61 (95% IC: 0.34, 0.80) y 0.71 (95% IC: 0.46, 0.85), respectivamente. Las variables de vegetacion asociadas a los sitios de anidacion no afectaron significativamente la supervivencia de los nidos. La depredacion dio cuenta de la mayoria de los fracasos de nidos (34% de los nidos). Sugerimos que la defensa parental puede estar dando cuenta del efecto cuadratico de la edad del nido, ya que los padres defienden el nido mas agresivamente a medida que se acerca el momento en que los polluelos abandonaran el nido. Ademas, que los individuos con puestas mayores son de mayor edad y con mas experiencia, lo que resulta en una supervivencia de nidos mayor. DOI: 10.1525/cond.2010.090153

We examined the significance of arroyo-riparian habitat to birds in the Chihuahuan Desert of south-central New Mexico. Nests (N = 620) of 27 species were monitored during 1993-1995. Twenty-three species nested in arroyos and 20 species nested in uplands. Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), Rock Wrens (Salpinctes obsoletus), and Verdins (Auriparus flaviceps) nested most frequently in arroyos. Black-throated Sparrows (Amphispiza bilineata), Northern Mockingbirds, and Scott's Orioles (Icterus parisorum) nested most frequently in uplands. Nest density in arroyos was more than twice that of uplands (0.64 nests/ha versus 0.27 nests/ha). Nest success and predation rates did not differ between arroyos and uplands for Black-throated Sparrows, Northern Mockingbirds, and Crissal Thrashers (Toxostoma crissale). Nest predation was the primary cause of mortality to eggs and nestlings in both habitats. Torrey yucca (Yucca torreyi), javelina bush (Condalia warnockii), and little-leaf sumac (Rhus microphylla) were the most frequently used nest substrates, even though these shrubs were among the lowest in density. Maintaining this habitat and protecting sparse shrub species used as nest substrates may have long term importance in managing Chihuahuan Desert bird communities., Populations of some Neotropical migrants have declined over the last 20-30 years (Finch 1991). A significant reason for these declines is thought to be caused by loss of habitat on [...]

The article presents a study which equates the characteristics of sites of Western Bluebird nests with natural tree cavities in the Cascade Range. The study shows that 27% of the cavities whose original excavator was recognized were excavated by the Hairy Woodpecker, 5% by the Northern Flicker and 12% by the White-headed Woodpecker. It reveals that 76% of the 38 second nests were in similar cavity as the first, although 38% of the first attempts were not successful.

The article presents a study on the survival of woodpeckers' nests in burned and unburned, managed ponderosa pine forests in the northwestern U.S. It says that the nest-survival rates of the White-headed Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker were estimated in the eastern slope of the Cascade Range in Washington from 2005 to 2010 using the information-theoretic framework, and the logistic-exposure method. It adds the low survival of woodpeckers' nests in the ponderosa pine forests.

The article presents a study which investigates the characteristics of trees utilized by white-headed woodpeckers for sap feeding in Washington. The author studied the behavior and territory of white-headed woodpeckers from April 15, 2008 to June 20, 2008 in Washington. The research measured the diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of trees using logger's tape and clinometer. It reveals that white-headed woodpeckers utilized smaller Ponderosa Pine trees in the excavation of sap wells. It shows that white-headed woodpeckers dipped their bill into each well lick up the tree's sap with their tongue when they feed themselves.