Dennis:

It is my understanding, too, that the population at Fort Simcoe is
strong and healthy. The remarks I was making about the situation in
interior valleys was addressed to Wayne's observations:

"Lewis's Woodpeckers nest mainly in two habitats in the southern BC
interior; riparian cottonwood stands in the valleys, and open areas
(especially burned areas) in ponderosa pine stands. The decline seems
to have mainly affected Lewis's in the valleys, where they face severe
competition from Starlings; the latter species is generally absent
from pine stands."

The Fort Simcoe population is dependent on the large oak groves
there, which is still a third kind of habitat for this species in
eastern Washington. One would have to assume that the ecology of
Lewis's Woodpecker differs -- perhaps considerably -- according to
the particular habitat type.

Has anybody observed that starlings are making life rough for Lewis's
Woodpeckers at Fort Simcoe?

>How does this fit in with the situation at Ft Simcoe? Is Lewis's Woodpecker
>on the decline in that location too? I was under the impression that
>population was more-or-less stable.
>
>Dennis Rockwell Kennewick, WA dennis.rockwell at gte.net


Hal Opperman
Medina, Washington
mailto:halop at accessone.com