Effects of winter weather on horizontal vertical use of isolated forest fragments by bark-foraging birds

We examined how wind and temperature below the thermoneutral zone may reduc e the suitability of small, isolated woodlots for permanent resident woodla nd birds. Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) and Tufted Titmice (Ba eolophus bicolor) exhibited significantly reduced foraging height in the fo rest canopy with increasing Mind strength, The horizontal area of woodlots frequented by most mixed-species flock members was significantly reduced by the combined effect Of wind and temperature. In particular, all mixed-spec ies hock members except female Downy Woodpeckers (Picoides pubescens) were found farther from windward edges of woodlots when Mind speeds were higher and temperatures were lower. We conclude that chickadees and titmice may be most affected by abiotic edge effects, both sexes of White-breasted Nuthat ch (Sitta carolinesis) and male Downy Woodpeckers intermediately affected, and female Downy woodpeckers least affected. Our results suggest that effec ts of wind and temperature may be important to populations of bark-foraging birds inhibiting highly fragmented habitat in the Temperate Zone.