Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers Relocated

Florida's national forests are critical habitats for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. In fact, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the birds are doing so well in Florida's forests that juvenile birds are captured each year to be relocated elsewhere in the southeastern United States where woodpecker populations are not so thriving. In the past 20 years, more than 500 birds have been relocated, helping stabilize declining populations in other areas.

Today there are only an estimated 14,000 red-cockaded woodpeckers in the wild, but the population has shown growth in areas where relocated birds are introduced. Another tactic used to encourage population growth is drilling artificial nesting cavities to provide suitable breeding sites with less competition.

The largest recovered population of these endangered woodpeckers, about 1,200 birds, is located in the Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee. Have you seen the red-cockaded woodpecker? Share your sightings in the comments!

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Photo © The U.S. Army