Download lewiss woodpecker

Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis pop. 1) Georgia Depression Population Global: G5TXQ, Provincial: SXB, SNA,
COSEWIC: T, BC List: Red, Identified
Distribution: Elevations: 250-1160 m A migratory species, Lewis’s Woodpecker historically ranged from southeastern Vancouver Island and the lower Fraser
Valley of southwestern British Columbia through the Gulf and San Juan Islands to the Puget Trough of western Washington (BC Conservation Data Center). While
summer breeding populations of Lewis’s Woodpecker still occur in the Southern Interior, the population historically found in the southern portion of the Coast
Region (Georgia Depression) is considered extirpated. The last breeding records date back to 1963 (Manning 2004). However the species is known to stray and has
been found as far as Masset on Haida Gwaii (Manning 2004). Occasional sightings of the species still occur with the most recent one being in the Metro Vancouver
area (MCA 2009). Similar declines for this species have occurred in parts of Washington and Oregon as well (GOERT 2003).
Description: Length: 260-290 mm Adults: A relatively large woodpecker this species resembles a crow in flight. The chisel shaped beak is at least as long as the
head. Plumage includes a blood red patch that covers the birds eye and cheek area from side to side on the head and blue green crown and chin line. A silver-grey
collar; glossy greenish-black back and wings; greyish -rose abdomen, flanks and sides complete the distinct plumage of both sexes. Juveniles: The red face patch
and silver-grey collar is lacking and the back and wings are more olive-brown in colour.
Diet: This species dives after flying insects from perches on vertical structures such as wildlife trees and wooden utility poles. Foraging areas range from open
mature mixed species conifer and hardwood forests, riparian areas and burns. Food sources include seasonal nuts, seeds and berries. Birds will also glean insects
from vegetation and the ground (similar to Northern Flicker) and can sometimes be observed caching acorns, beetles and other foods in the crevices of power poles
or the bark of standing trees (GOERT 2003, Manning 2004)).
Look’s Like? The distinct plumage (especially lack of any spotting or barring patterns on either sexes or juveniles) makes this species easy to distinguish from
other Woodpeckers.
Primary Habitat: M. lewis nests and roosts in mature mixed open canopy stands where standing wildlife trees are readily available. Often found adjacent to or at
the edges of riparian areas, burns and meadows. Canopy species composition includes Shore Pine, Douglas-fir, Sitka Spruce, Black Cottonwood and Garry Oak.
The presence of a dense understory of shrubs or native grassland communities is important to support insect food sources during the breeding season.
Secondary Habitat: It is unknown if this species will utilize artificial cavity boxes however it does exploit artificial structures such as wooden utility poles, fence
posts and even building roofs (Manning 2004).
Critical Feature: Excavates a cavity (up to 30 m above ground) or uses abandoned woodpecker holes, natural cavities or hollows in wildlife trees. Nests can range
up to >1000 m elevation, often in association with burns and occasionally semi-colonially (Manning 2004). The preferred open stand habitat for this species was
historically abundant in the southern part of the Coast Region. In Garry Oak ecosystems regular burning for the production of Camas species (a member of the Lily
family whose bulb was a primary food source for First Nations) was historically carried out and would have assisted in maintaining the open habitat favoured by
Lewis’s Woodpecker. As well this species is not as proficient as other woodpecker species in primary cavity excavation and requires accessible entry points such
as de-limbed sites on a declining tree or a dead tree in an advanced state of decay. These structural attributes are often present in Garry Oak and would have been
enhanced by frequent fires (GOERT 2003).
Seasonal Life Cycle
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Arrives in April.
Breeding /
Nesting
Eggs/Chick’s in
nest
Fledging (most migrate south starting in
September, some remain resident)
Habitat Guild: In general Lewis’s Woodpecker is an open woodland specialist found in association with mature stands of mixed conifers and hardwoods with
high densities of wildlife trees and native grass and shrub thicket understories.
Threats
 Disturbance and loss of critical foraging and nesting features from development and logging are considered one of the most significant threats. Reestablishment of this species will likely not be possible without recovery of critical habitat features (GOERT 2003).
 Fire suppression in many areas of this species historical Coast Region distribution may have reduced potential areas for populations to re-establish.
 Wide scale loss of nest trees through logging and other resource extraction activities (e.g. firewood collection) remains an ongoing threat. WorkSafe BC
requirements to remove hazard trees (i.e. wildlife trees) and incremental loss of associated Garry Oak on Vancouver Island may have contributed to the
decline and eventual extirpation of Lewis’s Woodpecker on the Coast Region (Manning 2004).
 Potential competition for cavity nests with introduced secondary cavity nesting species such as European Starling in areas where settlement interfaces occur
(GOERT 2003, Manning 2004)
 Predation by domestic cat from nesting in developed areas and collision mortalities from vehicles in association with use of roadside utility poles and other
artificial structures in developed areas.
Priority Conservation & Management Objectives
 Assess, inventory and monitor using methodology setout in the Provincial RISC standards # 19 “Inventory Methods for Woodpeckers” (Version 2.0)
 Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHA’s) should be assigned to areas where three or more breeding pairs become established and cover between 5 and 50 ha dependent
on suitable habitat being available (Manning 2004).
 Wildlife trees form a critical component for seasonal foraging and breeding success, refrain from salvage or thinning of wildlife trees in areas where they
occur in significant densities and work toward creating new wildlife trees through artificial placement or selective harvesting (GOERT 2003).
 Actions to protect critical features may eventually permit natural or human assisted re-introduction. Such habitat enhancement would be of greatest benefit in
concert with management of European starling.
 Manage areas of existing and potential high habitat value by maintaining vegetated buffers and connectivity between sites.
 Sightings, specimens, or observations of activities threatening its habitat should be reported to the regional Species at Risk Biologist at the Ministry of
Environment office.
Draft 2010
Disclaimer: This species account and related conservation recommendations are draft only and presently under review and subject to change.
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Main References & Citations:
A Field Guide to Species at Risk in the Coast Forest Region of British Columbia: Published by: International Forest Products Limited and BC Ministry of Environment. 2003.
Manning T., 2004. Lewis’s Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified Wildlife
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/frpa/iwms/accounts.html
Melanerpes lewis. 2003. Species at Risk in Garry Oak and Associated Ecosystems in British Columbia. Factsheet.
Cooper, John M. and M. Beauchesne. 2002. LEWIS’S WOODPECKER STEWARDSHIP ACCOUNT For the Garry Oak Ecosystems of Southwestern British Columbia. The
Vertebrates at Risk Recovery Action Group of the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team
Maplewood Conservation Area North Vancouver, 2009. “Lewis’s Woodpecker at Maplewood”. Accessed online June 2010.
Develop With Care: Environmental Guidelines for Urban and Rural Land Development in British Columbia.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/bmp/devwithcare2006/develop_with_care_intro.html
BC Species & Ecosystems Explorer (BC Conservation Data Center Summary Report) http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/atrisk/toolintro.html
NatureServe Explorer - http://www.natureserve.org
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada: http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/
Image credits:
Lewis’s Woodpecker: Flikr
Lewis’s Woodpecker Close Up: David Menke USFWS
Garry Oak transitional forest: GOERTS (need original and permission to use)
Draft 2010
Disclaimer: This species account and related conservation recommendations are draft only and presently under review and subject to change.
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