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Ornithology Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Ornithology

The Role Of Endangered Oak (Quercus Spp.) Savanna Characteristics In Supporting Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus L.) Populations, Kimberly J. Zralka May 2019

The Role Of Endangered Oak (Quercus Spp.) Savanna Characteristics In Supporting Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus L.) Populations, Kimberly J. Zralka

Honors Program Projects

Declines in animal populations worldwide are of critical conservation concern. However, without an understanding of optimal habitat preference, it is often difficult to determine what factors are driving these losses. Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus L.) populations have declined by over 70% in the last 50 years, yet in some areas the birds seem to maintain stable populations. The aim of this study was to empirically test the effects of various habitat factors on red-headed woodpecker presence and abundance in both the summer and winter seasons. As oak acorns are a critical food source for this bird, we were particularly …


Food Preferences Of Red-Headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus) And The Relationship With Season Change, Crystal Sauder Apr 2019

Food Preferences Of Red-Headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus) And The Relationship With Season Change, Crystal Sauder

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) used to be easy to find out in the wild, but as humans encroached on their habitats, their populations started to become impacted. They have a habitat range from Southern Canada down to the Gulf Coast. In several states their numbers are threatened due to loss of habitat. Red-headed woodpeckers prefer to live in open woodlands with dead, or dying, trees to nest in. As humans take away the dead trees from the forests, red-headed woodpeckers are losing their nesting sites. Preservation of red-headed woodpecker habitats are needed to ensure the population starts to …


Dominance And Aggression Among Hummingbirds In The Cloud Forests Of The Talamanca Mountains, Costa Rica, Crystal Sauder, Aileen Scarim Apr 2019

Dominance And Aggression Among Hummingbirds In The Cloud Forests Of The Talamanca Mountains, Costa Rica, Crystal Sauder, Aileen Scarim

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are known for being aggressive and territorial. By knowing hummingbirds are not very social, nor appear to enjoy having interactions with others, we wanted to observe how multiple species of Trochilidae interact with one another. The study was completed to observe if males of different Trochilidae would be more aggressive at hummingbird feeders over females. Three different feeder locations were decided on, spread across the Savegre Valley region near the Quetzal Education Research Center (QERC). Symbols were agreed upon in order to shorthand the exact series of events that were happening while we observed the feeders. Species and …