New homes for feathered friends in South Florida
Some special little birds have new homes in South Florida thanks to some of our biologists. Working with other federal, state and private partners our biologists are helping to increase populations of the federally protected red-cockaded woodpecker. These birds, which receive their name due to the tiny red patch or "cockade" behind the eye of the males, are very rare because they require open stands of old-growth pine a habitat that is no longer common in Florida. In an effort to boost smaller, less established populations, biologists captured 9 pairs of birds in the Osceola National Forest, an area where the species is well established. Once the birds were secured, they were placed in translocation boxes which were stored in dark quiet place until morning. At dawn biologist began the rigorous task of feeding. The birds needed to be fed every 45 minutes throughout the entire day -- even as they were being transported south on the interstate! When they arrived at the Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in South Florida that evening, each bird was placed into a previously selected cavity in a tree. Every cavity had a screen over the entrance with a string hanging down to the ground. The following morning at dawn, biologists headed back out to the WMA to wait for the birds to start vocalizing and pecking at the screens. When the biologist heard these sounds, they knew it was time to pull strings and release the birds into their new habitat. Many of the birds will not stay in the exact area but half of them usually stay in their new populations through the following breeding season.

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