Availability of Pileated Woodpecker Cavities and Use by Other Species

I studied production, availability, and use of pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) cavities in the Foothills Model Forest, Alberta, Canada. Pileated woodpecker territories contained 4-48 cavity trees. There was an average of 2.20 cavities/km2 and cavity production exceeded cavity loss during the 5-year study period. There was an apparent surplus of cavities available during all seasons. Of those cavities inspected, 44.6% were used by pileated woodpeckers, >18 other species used 66.6%, and 22.3% were empty. Pileated woodpecker cavities are an important resource for cavity-using wildlife in western boreal forests, and they may be a critical resource for large secondary cavity-using species that cannot enter cavities excavated by smaller woodpecker species. Forest managers should protect existing pileated woodpecker cavity trees and implement strategies to support continued production of new cavity trees.