HABITAT USE AND MANAGEMENT OF PILEATED WOODPECKERS IN NORTHEASTERN OREGON

We determined home range size and habitats used by pileated woodpecker s (Dryocopus pileatus) to provide essential information for proper man agement of the species in northeastern Oregon. Twenty-three pileated w oodpeckers fitted with transmitters were followed for 5-10 months (Jun -Mar) during 1989-90. Mated pairs (n = 7) ranged over smaller areas (x BAR = 407 ha) than birds (xBAR = 597 ha) whose mates had died (n = 9). Habitat use within home ranges was not random. Stands with old growth , grand fir (Abies grandis), no logging, and greater-than-or-equal-to 60% canopy closure were used more (P < 0.01) than expected, and all ot her types of stands were used less than expected. From June until Marc h, 38% of the observations of foraging were on downed logs, 38% on dea d trees, 18% on live trees, and 6% on stumps. We recommend that manage ment for pileated woodpeckers in northeastern Oregon include increasin g density of snags for nesting and foraging, increasing density of dow ned logs in foraging areas, and increasing management areas from the e xisting 121 ha to 364 ha of forest. Within these areas, we recommend t hat 75% be in grand fir forest type; 25% be old growth; and the remain der be mature stands; at least 50% have greater-than-or-equal-to 60% c anopy closure; and at least 40% be unlogged with the remainder in matu re stands.