Reintroduction and postrelease movements of red-cockaded woodpecker groupsin eastern Texas

The effects of demographic isolation may be particularly severe in small, i solated populations of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides bor ealis). Augmentation of single adult woodpeckers with subadult birds of the opposite sex allows managers to stabilize small, isolated populations but does not provide a means to significantly increase populations. The reintro duction of pairs of subadult red-cockaded woodpeckers into unoccupied habit at provides a technique to bolster small populations. We report the results of such efforts to increase a small, isolated red-cockaded woodpecker popu lation in eastern Texas, and we describe postrelease movements of transloca ted red-cockaded woodpeckers. Seventeen red-cockaded woodpeckers (9 M, 8 F) were translocated to the Sabine National Forest in eastern Texas between D ecember 1994 and March 1995. Prior to translocations, this forest contained 13 groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Five pairs, consisting of a subadul t male and female, were released to attempt to establish new breeding pairs . Seven additional subadult woodpeckers were translocated to provide mates to solitary individuals. Nine previously unoccupied sites were occupied. Of the 17 woodpeckers translocated, 12 (71% 6 M, 6 F) were established in ter ritories following the 1995 or 1996 breeding seasons. The remaining 5 woodp eckers were unaccounted for. Of the 12 woodpeckers resighted, 3 (18%) estab lished territories at their release sites. Woodpeckers that dispersed from their release site were relocated in sites an average of 2.8 km (range = 0. 5-9.6 km) away. One (20%) of the 5 pairs released remained together into th e 1995 breeding season. Eight (89%) of the 9 new pairs found during 1995 an d 1996 included at least 1 translocated red-cockaded woodpecker and bred du ring 1995 or 1996. Our results demonstrate that the direct reintroduction o f multiple pairs is an effective technique for reestablishing breeding unit s in formerly vacant habitat. Our results also suggest the reintroduction o f pairs in a spatial array dense enough to allow social contact between adj acent pairs and with preexisting clusters substantially increases the forma tion of new pairs.