GETTING STUCK - A COST OF COMMUNAL CAVITY ROOSTING

Multiple Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) perished as a res ult of two group members getting stuck while attempting to exit a comm unal roost cavity simultaneously. Both birds died, as did other indivi dual(s) trapped behind them. Although communal roosting may have many benefits, such mortality constitutes a risk of communal roosting that may help explain why Acorn Woodpeckers choose not to roost as communal ly as they could.