Notes on the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker in Texas

Abstract

THE survival of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Dendrocopos borealis) is endangered by its apparent requirement for old, diseased pine trees. This paper is a preliminary report on the species and its habitat in eastern Texas. We made surveys on three study tracts, beginning in early June 1969, and located 86 trees with cavities cut by Red-cockadeds and with recent gum flow. These three tracts were unusual in having stands with pines more than 100 years old. No other comparable areas are known in the region. One tract was the south 530 acres of the Fairchild State Forest (Figure 1) in Cherokee County, 85 miles west of Louisiana and 165 miles from the coast. This is shortleaf and loblolly pine (Pinus eckinata and P. taeda) with some hardwood midstory. A second study area was the east 1,338 acres of Compartment 50, Angelina National Forest (Figure 2), near Zavalla, 46 miles from Louisiana and 100 miles inland, in Jasper County. This is cutover longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) type that was partly planted to slash pine (P. elliottii) about 30 years ago. We studied a third series of trees in the Sam Houston National Forest near Cleveland in San Jacinto County, 85 miles from Louisiana and 75 miles from the coast. This is loblolly pine with some hardwood midstory. No density observations were made there. XVe are pleased to report that this first study of a nongame bird with Texas Federal Aid funds seems to have general support. Perhaps the wildlife resource management program is maturing. We received full cooperation from the staffs of the U. S. Forest Service and the Texas Forest Service, and especially from Henry H. Swank and Don Young.