Selection of pines for foraging by red-cockaded woodpeckers

Foraging habitat guidelines for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Pic oides borealis) are based on properties of stands used by the birds rather than properties of the individual trees selected for foraging. If foraging red-cockaded woodpeckers key in on individual trees, rather than stands, th ere would be significant implications for optimal management of foraging ha bitat for this species. We compared age and size of pine trees used by fora ging red-cockaded woodpeckers to the age and size of pine trees in the surr ounding habitat. We hypothesized that older trees and larger trees would be used mere frequently than expected from availability Mean age of trees use d was older than mean age of trees available (P < 0.01), and mean tree size used was larger than mean tree size available (P < 0.05). Our data indicat e that 60 years and 25 cm are threshold values where use first exceeds avai lability and that old-growth trees (greater than or equal to 100 yr old) ar e strongly selected. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker Recover) Plan stipulates t hat tree stands 30-60 years old constitute suitable foraging habitat. We fo und that although red-cockaded woodpeckers foraged on trees 30-49 years old , these trees were used considerably less than their availability To better reflect habitat selection, foraging guidelines should place more emphasis on trees greater than or equal to 60 years old, and especially old-growth t rees and stands.