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There are approximately 18,000
bird species around the world.
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These highly adaptable descendants of the dinosaurs
are found on every continent
from the icy waters of Antarctica
to the canopies of tropical rainforests.
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Even though they come in a variety of shapes, colors,
and sizes, all birds share the same characteristics
of having wings, feathers, and the ability
to lay eggs.
In South Carolina, some birds travel vast distances
called, migrations,
while others prefer to stay year-round.
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One special bird, called the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker,
lives in a very distinct habitat
of the state and has one wild story…
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The Red Cockaded Woodpecker is
commonly located in the geographic region
of South Carolina known as the “Sandhills”.
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What’s wild about the Sandhills
is that it was once a beach.
Over millions of years, the ocean receded due to a
cool down period in our planet’s history known
as an ice age.
Today, the Sandhills region is home to a unique
ecosystem dominated by rolling hills,
pine forests, and some of South Carolina’s
rarest wildlife.
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Because there is so much sand,
rainfall drains rapidly in the Sandhills so only the
most well-equipped plants and animals can survive in
this harsh environment.
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Trees like the Longleaf Pine have adapted
and grown wide stretching root systems to extract
nutrients and water over a larger area and have also
developed a fire-resistant bark.
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One of the uncommon features of the Sandhills
is that it often experiences
lightning-induced fires.
Now, prescribed man-made burnings help promote
healthy new growth and regulate other tree species,
making it the Longleaf Pine the primary roosting site
for the Red Cockaded Woodpecker.
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Unlike most woodpeckers, who prefer dead trees,
the Red Cockaded Woodpecker is the only woodpecker
that nests in live pine trees.
That is because Longleaf Pine secretes “pine resin,”
a sticky sap that provides the perfect
defense for nests against predators.
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The Red Cockaded Woodpecker gets its name
from the stripe of red feathers located behind
the eye of male birds.
They live in families called “clans,
” often foraging, and working together within
a territorial cluster of trees.
Within the clan lies a complex social system,
typically consisting of a male and a female breeding pair
with one or two “helpers.”
The “helpers” are usually made up of the male offspring
of the breeding pair
and take turns incubating the eggs,
excavating new nests,
and feeding the babies.
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When searching for new trees to nest in,
Red Cockaded Woodpeckers often pick trees infected
with “red heart disease,” a fungal infection
that causes the inside of the tree to rot,
making the work of pecking new holes easier.
Sadly, deforestation has caused this once
flourishing ecosystem to shrink,
decreasing the bird population.
Due to habitat loss, the Red Cockaded Woodpecker
was among one of the first species to be listed
as endangered.
To help restore the population,
wildlife management has come up with some crafty ways
of preserving the species.
Artificial nests like these
help the Red Cockaded Woodpecker
by providing a breeding home in trees
that the birds would otherwise be unable
to excavate.
Both artificial and natural nests are marked off
with white bands around the trunk of the trees
and are monitored for activity.
To get this data, the South Carolina Forestry
Commission use specialized cameras rigs to get
a closer look into the bird’s movement
and population.
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Hopefully, in time this information will
prove useful in the recovery of this wild bird.
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