Researchers are deploying the latest mapping techniques to identify the most important suburban habitat for North America’s largest woodpecker.
Researchers are deploying the latest mapping techniques to identify the most important suburban habitat for North America’s largest woodpecker.
University of Cincinnati doctoral student Ruijia Hu said wildlife habitat in congested places like southwest Ohio is becoming increasingly fragmented as forests give way to new construction. Eventually, this could spell trouble to an animal with specific habitat needs like Ohio’s pileated woodpecker.
Pileated woodpeckers are crow-sized birds with colorful red crests and striking white facial stripes. They are found in forests from British Columbia to Florida. They have the nickname carpenter birds for their incessant natural woodworking.
“I think they’re beautiful birds. They were the model for the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker,” Hu said.
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Photo Credit: JackBulmer via Pixabay
