Feasibility of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) Reintroduction into the Pine Flatwoods Communities of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Florida
Abstract
The endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis), a specialist species, once inhabited Jonathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP), located in Martin and Palm Beach counties in South Florida, but it has not been documented in the park since 1983 (FDEP 2000). JDSP is considering the reintroduction of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker into its pine flatwoods ecosystems, to contribute to their nationwide recovery. To examine the feasibility of this goal, a fixed-area plot vegetation survey was performed at JDSP to collect baseline data on the current suitability of Red-cockaded Woodpecker nesting and foraging habitat. A total of 58 plots from JDSP management zones C2, C3, C4, C5, D8, E7, E9, E11, and E13 were surveyed. In each plot, tree heights, tree diameter, basal area (BA) per stand, overstory density, understory density, and understory and midstory height were gathered, to describe each stand. Results were compared with the South Central Florida Recovery Unit (SCFRU) foraging habitat guidelines for RCWs (FWC 2008). The preliminary data show that JDSP’s pine flatwoods contain many largediameter trees, over 9 in (22.86 cm) diameter at breast height (DBH), some medium trees 4 to 8 in (10.16 to 20.32 cm) DBH, and few small diameter trees <4 in (10.16 cm) DBH, satisfying habitat structure characteristics necessary for the support of RCWs. Zones C5, E7, E9, and E13 demonstrated a total BA per stand of at least 3,000 ft2 (278.7 m2), meeting the SCFRU foraging habitat guidelines standard. Zones C4, C5, E7, E9, and E13 fulfilled the requirement for having at least 2,000 ft2 (185.8 m2) of BA of pine with DBH ≥9 in (22.9 cm), as did the results for the 4 to 8 in (10.16 to 20.32 cm) DBH category, showing that zones C5, E7, and E9 had slightly greater than 1,000 ft2 (92.9 m2) of BA required per stand. Zones C3, D8, E11, and E13 had zero pine trees with DBH <4 in (10.2 cm). Zone E13, in meeting all the guideline requirements studied, indicates JDSP is in a position to consider further analysis on RCW reintroduction feasibility at this time. Additionally, seven of the nine management zones studied exhibited an ample amount (≥40%) of herbaceous ground cover, supporting RCW foraging needs; therefore, these satisfactory vegetation survey results should be used in conjunction with future habitat assessments to determine whether JDSP satisfies recovery guidelines for optimal Red-cockaded Woodpecker foraging habitat, according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS 2003).
