Photo by Glenn & Jo McKinnon
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpeckers are what ecologists call a 'Keystone Species'. So says Ken Cheskey, Naturalist Director of Nature Canada. What is a keystone species? Mr. Cheskey says a keystone species is an organism that has a significant influence on the ecosystem it occupies that is disproportionately large compared to it abundance or biomass.
How do Pileated contribute to their ecosystem? It's their nest sites that contribute. There are 23 other species of birds and creatures that re-use Pileated Woodpecker nest sites (list below) to reproduce a secure and safe place to have their babies and nurture them through the most vulnerable part of their lives. The species indebted to Pileated Woodpeckers are:
Wood Duck Hairy Woodpecker
Hooded Merganser Northern Flicker
Common Merganser Brown Creeper
Barrow's Golden Eye Northern Flying Squirrel
Common Golden Eye Red Squirrel
Bufflehead Douglas Squirrel
American Kestrel Bushy-tailed Woodrat
Flammulated Owl American Marten
Western Screech Owl Ringtail
Northern Pygmy Owl Fisher
Northern Saw-whet Owl Little Brown Myotis
Boreal Owl Big-Brown Myotis
Vaux's Swift Silver-haired Bat
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder
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