BLACK WOODPECKER USE OF HABITATS AND FEEDING SUBSTRATES IN A MANAGED SCANDINAVIAN FOREST

To investigate whether the black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) is thr eatened by modern forestry practices, we studied the use of habitats a nd feeding substrates in a managed boreal forest landscape of southcen tral Scandinavia. Clearcutting practices have affected 80% of the 10,0 00-ha study area. In total, we located 219 radiotagged birds 5,638 tim es during 1990-94, of which habitat was described at 722 locations of 103 birds. For feeding habitat, birds preferred young plantations (15- 30 yr) dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies) and with high canopy c losure. For feeding substrates, woodpeckers preferred stumps in young plantations and snags in old forest. Forest >50 years old was preferre d for resting and display. The preference for young plantations as fee ding habitat corresponded with habitats where the staple food source, wood-living ants (mostly carpenter ants; Camponotus spp.), was most ab undant. Year-round home ranges decreased in size with an increasing pr oportion of young plantations in the landscape. We conclude that in co ntinental Scandinavian forests, where snow depths are moderate (<0.7 m ), food resources for the black woodpecker are well secured with prese nt-day forestry practices.