Woodpecker foraging activity in oak-dominated hill forests in Hungary

Komlós, Mariann; Botta-Dukát, Zoltán; Winkler, Dániel; Aszalós, Réka; Ónodi, Gábor

doi:10.2478/orhu-2021-0006

Abstract

We documented the foraging activities of woodpeckers on selected trees in an established conservation-oriented management study in five oak-dominated forests in Hungary. We examined the tree species preference of woodpeckers as a group and the impact of specific tree characteristics on the habitat use of woodpeckers. We estimated the percentage of visible foraging signs on the trunks and upper limbs of selected trees through the winter and early spring of 2019–2020. Based on the Jacobs’ index, woodpeckers preferred oak species for foraging and most foraging signs were on limbs rather than trunks. Foraging signs on trunks were more frequent on those of larger diameters and greater heights. It was also found that the lower the tree, the greater the effect of its diameter on the occurrence of signs.

References

Angelstam, P. K., Bütler, R., Lazdinis, M., Mikusiński, G. & Roberge, J. M. 2003. Habitat thresholds for focal species at multiple scales and forest biodiversity conservation. – Dead wood as an example. – Annales Zoologici Fennici 40(6): 473–482.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Arnett, E. B., Kroll, A. J. & Duke, S. D. 2010. Avian foraging and nesting use of created snags in intensively-managed forests of western Oregon, USA. – Forest Ecology and Management 260(10): 1773–1779. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.08.021
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Aszalós, R., Szigeti, V., Harmos, K., Csernák, S., Frank, T. & Ónodi, G. 2020. Foraging activity of woodpeckers on various forms of artificially created deadwood. – Acta Ornithologica 55(1): 63–76. DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.007
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Aulén, G. 1991. Increasing insect abundance by killing deciduous trees: A method of improving the food situation for endangered woodpeckers. – Holarctic Ecology 14(1): 68–80. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1991.tb00635.x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Barry, A. M., Hagar, J. C. & Rivers, J. W. 2018. Use of created snags by cavity-nesting birds across 25 years. – Journal of Wildlife Management 82(7): 1376–1384. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21489
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bobiec, A., Gutowski, J. M., Laudenslayer, W. F., Pawlaczyk, P. & Zub, K. 2005. The afterlife of a tree. – WWF Poland, Warsawa-Hajnóvka
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bocca, M., Carisio, L. & Rolando, A. 2007. Habitat use, home ranges and census techniques in the Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius in the Alps. – Ardea 95: 17–29. DOI: 10.5253/078.095.0103
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Brandeis, T. J., Newton, M., Filip, G. M. & Cole, E. C. 2002. Cavity-nester habitat development in artificially made Douglas-Fir Snags. – Journal of Wildlife Management 66(3): 625–633. DOI: 10.2307/3803129
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Brooks, M. E., Kristensen, K, van Benthem, K. J., Magnusson, A., Berg, C. W., Nielsen, A., Skaug, H. J., Maechler, M. & Bolker, B. M. 2017. glmmTMB balances speed and flexibility among packages for zero-inflated generalized linear mixed modeling. – The R Journal 9(2): 378–400. DOI: 10.3929/ethz-b-000240890
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Campion, D., Pardo, I., Elósegui, M. & Villanua, D. 2020. Gps Telemetry and Home Range of the White-Backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos: Results of the First Experience. – Acta Ornithologica 55(1): 77–87. DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.008
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Charman, E. C., Smith, K. W., Gruar, D. J., Dodd, S. & Grice, P. V. 2010. Characteristics of woods used recently and historically by Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos minor in England. – Ibis 152(3): 543–555. DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2010.01020.x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Christensen, M., Hanh, K., Mountford, E. P., Ódor, P., Standovár, T., Rozenbergar, D., Diaci, J., Wijdeven, S., Meyer, P., Winter, S. & Vrska, T. 2005. Dead wood in European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest reserves. – Forest Ecology and Management 210: 267–282. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2005.02.032
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Czeszczewik, D. 2009. Foraging behaviour of White-backed Woodpeckers Dendrocopos leucotos in a primeval forest (Białowiea National Park, NE Poland): Dependence on habitat resources and season. – Acta Ornithologica 44(2): 109–118. DOI: 10.3161/000164509X482687
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Czeszczewik, D., Zub, K., Stanski, T., Sahel, M., Kapusta, A. & Walankiewicz, W. 2015. Effects of forest management on bird assemblages in the Bialowieza Forest, Poland. – iForest 8: 377–385. DOI: 10.3832/ifor1212-007
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Drever, M. C., Aitken, K. E. H., Norris, A. R. & Martin, K. 2008. Woodpeckers as reliable indicators of bird richness, forest health and harvest. – Biological Conservation 141: 624–634. DOI: 10.1016/j. biocon.2007.12.004
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Farris, K. L. & Zack, S. 2005. Woodpecker-snag interactions: an overview of current knowledge in ponderosa pine systems. – USDA Forest Service General Technical Report 198: 183–195.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fox, J. & Weisberg, S. 2018. Visualizing fit and lack of fit in complex regression models with predictor effect plots and partial residuals. – Journal of Statistical Software 87(9): 1–27. https://www.jstatsoft.org/article/view/v087i09.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fox, J. 2003. Effect Displays in R for Generalised Linear Models. – Journal of Statistical Software 8(15): 1–27. https://www.jstatsoft.org/article/view/v008i15.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Garmendia, A., Cárcamo, S. & Schwendtner, O. 2006. Forest management considerations for conservation of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius and White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos populations in Quinto Real (Spanish Western Pyrenees). – Biodiversity and Conservation 15(4): 1399–1415. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-005-5410-0
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gibbons, P. & Lindenmayer, D. 2002. Tree hollows and wildlife conservation in Australia. – CSIRO Publishing
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gorman, G. 2004. Woodpeckers of Europe. A study of the European Picidae. – Bruce Coleman
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gorman, G. 2011. The Black Woodpecker. A monograph on Dryocopus martius. – Lynx Edicions
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gorman, G. 2015. Foraging signs and cavities of some European woodpeckers (Picidae): Identifying the clues that lead to establishing the presence of species. – Denisia 36: 87–97.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Grubb, T. C. Jr. 1975. Weather dependent foraging behaviour of some birds wintering in a deciduous woodland. – Condor 77: 175–182.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hallett, J. G., Lopez, T., O’Connell, M. A. & Borysewicz, M. A. 2001. Decay dynamics and avian use of artificially created snags. – Northwest Science 75(4): 378–386.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hardersen, S. 2004. Habitat usage of Woodpeckers and Nuthatch. – Ricerche Naturalistiche a Bosco Della Fontana – Quaderni Conservazione Habitat 3: 49–59. (in Italian with English Summary)
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hothorn, T., Bretz, F. & Westfall, P. 2008. Simultaneous inference in general parametric models. – Biometrical Journal 50(3): 346–363. DOI: 10.1002/bimj.200810425
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jacobs, J. 1974. Quantitative measurement of food selection. – Oecologia 14: 413–417. DOI: 10.1007/BF00384581
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jusino, M. A., Lindner, D. L., Banik, M. T. & Walters, J. R. 2015. Heart rot hotel: fungal communities in Redcockaded Woodpecker excavations. – Fungal Ecology 14: 33–43. DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2014.11.002
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Keserű, Zs., Csiha, I., Kovács, Cs., Rásó, J. & Rédei, K. 2017. Vörös tölgyesek természetes felújítása és erdőnevelése: Esettanulmányok [Natural regeneration of red oak (Quercus rubra) stands: case studies]. – Erdészettudományi Közlemények 7(2): 115–125. DOI: 10.17164/EK.2017.008 (in Hungarian)
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kilgo, J. C. & Vukovich, M. A. 2014. Can snag creation benefit a primary cavity nester: Response to an experimental pulse in snag abundance. – Biological Conservation 171: 21–28. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2014.01.003
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kosiński, Z. 2006. Factors affecting the occurrence of Middle Spotted and Great Spotted Woodpeckers in deciduous forests – a case study from Poland. – Annales Zoologici Fennici 43(2): 198–210.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kosiński, Z. & Kempa, M. 2007. Density, distribution and nest-sites of woodpeckers Picidae, in a managed forest of Western Poland. – Polish Journal of Ecology 55(3): 519–533.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kosiński, Z., Pluta, M., Ulanowska, A., Walczak, Ł., Winiecki, A. & Zarębski, M. 2017. Do increases in the availability of standing dead trees affect the abundance, nest-site use, and niche partitioning of Great Spotted and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers in riverine forests? – Biodiversity and Conservation 27(1): 123–145. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-017-1425-6
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kraigher, H., Jurc, D., Kalan, P., Kutnar, L., Levanic, T., Rupel, M. & Smolej, I. 2002. Beech coarse woody debris characteristics in two virgin forest reserves in southern Slovenia. – Zbornik Gozdarstva in Lesarstva 69: 91–134.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kruszyk, R. 2003. Population density and foraging habits of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and Great Spotted Woodpecker D. major in the Odra valley woods near Wroclaw. – Notatki Ornitologiczne 44: 75–88.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lenth, R. V. 2021. emmeans: Estimated Marginal Means, aka Least-Squares Means. R package version 1.5.4. – https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=emmeans
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lõhmus, A., Kinks, R. & Soon, M. 2010. The importance of dead-wood supply for woodpeckers in Estonia. – Baltic Forestry 16(1): 76–86.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mazgajski, T. D. 1998. Nest-site characteristic of Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major in central Poland. – Polish Journal of Ecology 46(1): 33–41.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Melletti, M. & Penteriani, V. 2003. Nesting and feeding tree selection in the endangered White-backed Woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi. – Wilson Bulletin 115(3): 299–306. DOI: 10.1676/03-022
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mikusinski, G. 2006. Woodpeckers: distribution, conservation, and research in a global perspective. – Annales Zoologici Fennici 43: 86–95.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mikusiński, G., Gromadzki, M. & Chylarecki, P. 2001. Woodpeckers as indicators of forest bird diversity. – Conservation Biology 15(1): 208–217. DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1739.2001.99236.x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ónodi, G. & Csörgő, T. 2014. Habitat preference of Great-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major linnaeus, 1758) and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor Linnaeus, 1758) in the presence of invasive plant species – Preliminary study. – Ornis Hungarica 22(2): 50–64. DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2014-0018
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ónodi, G. & Winkler, D. 2016. Nest site characteristics of the Great-spotted Woodpecker in a bottomland riparian forest in the presence of invasive tree species. – Ornis Hungarica 24(1): 81–95. DOI: 10.1515/orhu-2016-0005
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pasinelli, G. & Hegelbach, J. 1997. Characteristics of trees preferred by foraging Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius in Northern Switzerland. – Ardea 85: 203–209.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pasinelli, G. 2007. Nest site selection in Middle and Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos medius & Dendrocopos major: implications for forest management and conservation. – Biodiversity Conservation 16: 1283–1298. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-007-9162-x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Puverel, C., Abourachid, A., Böhmer, C., Leban, J. M., Svoboda, M. & Paillet, Y. 2019. This is my spot: What are the characteristics of the trees excavated by the Black Woodpecker? A case study in two managed French forests. – Forest Ecology and Management 453: 117621. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117621
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
R Core Team 2018. R: A Language and environment for statistical computing. – https://www.r-project.org/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Rédei, K., Csiha, I. & Keserű, Zs. 2011. Vöröstölgyesek nevelése [Silvicultural treatment of red oak stands]. – Erdészeti Lapok 146(11): 333–334. (in Hungarian)
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Roberge, J. M., Angelstam, P. & Villard, M. A. 2008. Specialised woodpeckers and naturalness in hemiboreal forests – Deriving quantitative targets for conservation planning. – Biological Conservation 141(4): 997–1012. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2008.01.010
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sandström, J., Bernes, C., Junninen, K., Lõhmus, A., Macdonald, E., Müller, J. & Jonsson, B. G. 2019. Impacts of dead wood manipulation on the biodiversity of temperate and boreal forests. A systematic review. – Journal of Applied Ecology 56(7): 1770–1781. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13395
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
St-Amand, J., Tremblay, J. A. & Martin, K. 2018. Foraging ecology of the Williamson’s Sapsucker: Implications for forest management. – Condor 120(3): 680–702. DOI: 10.1650/CONDOR-17-238.1
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Swallow, S. K., Howard, R. A. & Gutierrez, R. J. 1988. Snag preferences of woodpeckers in a northeastern hardwood foraging. – Wilson Bulletin 100(2): 236–246.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Thompson, I. D., Baker, J. A. & Ter-Mikaelian, M. 2003. A review of the long-term effects of post-harvest silviculture on vertebrate wildlife, and predictive models, with an emphasis on boreal forests in Ontario, Canada. – Forest Ecology and Management 177: 441–469. DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1127(02)00453-X
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tomiałojć, L., Wesolowski, T. & Walankiewicz, W. 1984. Breeding bird community of a primaeval temperate forest (Bialowieza National Park, Poland). – Acta Ornithologica 20(8): 241–308.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Török, J. 1990. Resource partitioning among three woodpecker species Dendrocopos spp. during the breeding season. – Holarctic Ecology 13: 257–264. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1990.tb00617.x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Virkkala, R. 2006. Why study woodpeckers? The significance of woodpeckers in forest ecosystems. – Annales Zoologici Fennici 43(2): 82–85.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Walankiewicz, W., Czeszczewik, D., Tumiel, T. & Stański, T. 2011. Woodpecker abundance in the Białowieża Forest – a comparison between deciduous, strictly protected and managed stands. – Ornis Polonica 52: 161–168.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Weiss, S. A., Corace, R. G., Toman, E. L., Herms, D. A. & Goebel, P. C. 2018. Wildlife implications across snag treatment types in jack pine stands of Upper Michigan. – Forest Ecology and Management 409: 407–416. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.10.013
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wesolowski, T. 2007. Lessons from long-term hole-nester studies in a primeval temperate forest. – Journal of Ornithology 148: 395–405. DOI: 10.1007/s10336-007-0198-1
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wesołowski, T., Mitrus, C., Czeszczewik, D. & Rowiński, P. 2010. Breeding bird dynamics in a primeval temperate forest over thirty-five years: Variation and stability in the changing world. – Acta Ornithologica 45(2): 209–232. DOI: 10.3161/000164510x551354
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wesolowski, T. & Tomialojc, L. 1986. The breeding ecology of woodpeckers in a temperate primaeval forest – preliminary data. – Acta Ornithologica 22(1): 1–21.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Woodpecker foraging activity in oak-dominated hill forests in Hungary

Abstract

Paradigm

My account