Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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WOODPECKERS

Red-bellied Woodpecker  Melanerpes carolinus

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

SUMMER:  Fairly Common Resident.  See Remarks section for Singing Male Census data.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Fairly Common Resident.

 Fall:  Fairly Common Resident.

REMARKS:

This species was considered scarce locally prior to the 1950's (MK) (Kiff et al. 1986) and has increased  in numbers since the 1950's (Edeburn et al. 1960, Hall 1983).

Singing Male Census (Eddy 2003): Cabwaylingo State Forest, Wayne Co., WV (2002): Tick Ridge: dominant canopy: yellow poplar, black cherry, sugar maple (elevation, 350 m to 378 m): +; Twelvepole Creek: dominant canopy: yellow poplar, sugar maple, sycamore (elevation, 244 m at center line): +.

Breeding Bird Survey (Bullard 2003): Cabwaylingo State Forest, Wayne Co., WV (2002): 135 Stops (7 surveys), 64 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 19. Total Birds: 21.

Singing Male Census (Koch and Hurley 1972): Beech Fork Lake, Wayne Co., WV (1969):  mature mesophytic forest (elevation, 198 m to 244 m): 16 males/100 ha.; second growth mixed hardwoods-pine woods (elevation, 236 m to 289 m): 16 males/100 ha.

Breeding Bird Survey (Koch and Hurley 1972): Beech Fork Lake, Wayne Co., WV (29 May 1969): 50 Stops, 25 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 1. Total Birds: 1.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on   85% of Counts.  Total Birds:  917.  Range:  1 to 39.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on   94% of Counts.  Total Birds:    54.  Range:  1 to 10.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 100% of Counts.  Total Birds:  687.  Range   4 to 33.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts:  61.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  3.3.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts:  18.  Birds/Party Hr::  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  6.5.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts:  41.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  2.6.