Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Endangered Species

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers only nest in a specific habitat of longleaf pines. Much destruction of that habitat has lead to them becoming an endangered species. We have had the fortunate opportunity to see them in several places in FL, such as the Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County, south FL where I photographed this bird.

Lisa Boig sent us this information and link to a slide show of photos of a biologist banding a Red-cockaded Woodpecker chick.
To see the photos of the chick, click here

"The Nature Center and the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary last week banded a Red-cockaded Woodpecker c at the preserve near Wakefield, Virginia. The banding is necessary to keep track of the population of this species of federally endangered birds.

At about 2,700 acres, Piney Grove Preserve harbors Virginia's only breeding population of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and the northernmost population of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in the United States.

Today it is estimated that there are about 6,000 groups of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers or 15,000 birds from Florida to Virginia and west to southeast Oklahoma and eastern Texas, representing about 1 percent of the woodpecker's original range."

One of the best ways we can support birds, is to help preserve their habitats.

Photo © Lillian Stokes, 2007