Red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) are a charismatic, easily recognizable bird species of the Midwestern and Eastern U.S. Although they were formerly common throughout their range, they have undergone dramatic regional declines estimated at 67% since 1970. This population decline is presumably due to the loss of preferred nesting habitat in open woodlands and savanna-like grasslands that contain dead limbs and snags for nesting and roosting.

 

Fortunately, red-headed woodpeckers occur in relatively stable numbers (>100 breeding adults annually) at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in east central Minnesota, which provides a unique opportunity to study an apparently stable population. A team of researchers led by Dr. Elena West began additional work in 2017 to identify the aspects of oak savanna habitat that support nest success and survival, habitat use, migration, and movement patterns.

 

Red-headed woodpeckers are important primary-cavity nesters—they excavate holes in trees for nesting and roosting. These cavities are also a vital resource for other animals, including bats, squirrels, tree frogs, mice, and secondary cavity nesting birds, like nuthatches, blue birds, and chickadees. These secondary cavity users do not create cavities themselves, but depend on their availability for breeding and roosting. Through the Woodpecker Cavity Cam Project, we hope to gain a better understanding of the animals that use and compete for these cavities and how they use them throughout the year. To do this, we installed a series of trail cameras near red-headed woodpecker cavities to capture the behaviors and interactions of the community of animals that depend on these holes. With your help going through the videos that the cameras capture, we hope to learn lots of valuable new information!