Assessment of Effects of Maneuver Training Activities on Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Populations on Fort Stewart, GA.

摘要

In Red-cockaded woodpeckers (RCWs) several factors have been identified that affect reproduction and cluster occupancy including both demographic and habitat parameters. This report analyzes potential training effects in relation to these other parameters; in fact demographic factors were the best predictors of some aspects of RCW reproductive success and cluster occupancy. This result emphasizes the importance of installation managers being aware of the biological factors potentially limiting populations under their management concern and of tailoring monitoring plans to acquire the relevant data necessary to evaluate all potential sources of population limits. For installations implementing the Army 1996 'Management Guide-lines for the Red- cockaded Woodpecker on Army Installations' estimates of critical demography parameters will be available. However, based on data availability on Fort Stewart, special emphasis should be placed on follow-tip monitoring of banded populations. Emphasis on intensive habitat data collection is probably not warranted if installations are adequately implementing pre-scribed burning and cavity augmentation programs. Data for Fort Stewart suggest that habitat is not an important factor in clusters with adequate midstory control and cavity availability.