Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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WOODPECKERS

Pileated Woodpecker  Dryocopus pileatus

WINTER:  Uncommon to Fairly Common Resident.  See Remarks section for CBC data.

SUMMER:  Uncommon to Fairly Common Resident.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Uncommon to Fairly Common Resident.

 Fall:  Uncommon to Fairly Common Resident.

REMARKS:

Singing Male Census (Eddy 2003): Cabwaylingo State Forest, Wayne Co., WV (2002): Indian Trail: dominant canopy: am. beech, yellow poplar, black birch (elevation, 259 m to 335 m): +; Twelvepole Creek: dominant canopy: yellow poplar, sugar maple, sycamore (elevation, 244 m at center line): +.

Singing Male Census (Hall 1952): Cabwaylingo State Forest, Wayne Co, WV (1952): Indian Trail: dominant canopy: yellow poplar, am. beech, sugar maple (elevation, 243m to 259 m): +; Tick Ridge: dominant canopy: 50% mixed oak (elevation, 335 m to 366 m): +.

Breeding Bird Survey (Bullard 2003): Cabwaylingo State Park, Wayne Co., WV (2002): 135 Stops (7 surveys), 64 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 14. Total Birds: 16.

Breeding Bird Survey (Koch and Hurley 1972): Beech Fork Lake, Mason Co., WV (29 May 1969): 50 Stops, 25 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 8. Total Birds: 9.

Breeding Bird Survey (Koch 1974): McClintic WMA, Mason Co., WV (29 May 1971): 50 Stops, 12.25 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 1. Total Birds: 2.

Prior to the 1940's this species was virtually unknown in our area (Kiff et al. 1986).  Hall (1983) notes an increasing population since the 1920's and 1930's.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 84% of Counts.  Total Birds:  431.  Range:  1 to 26.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 94% of Counts.  Total Birds:    40.  Range:  1 to   8.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 98% of Counts.  Total Birds:  446.  Range:  2 to 32.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts:  61.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  7.0.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts:  18.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  8.8.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts:  40.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  4.1.