CINCINNATI — A researcher at the University of Cincinnati has just completed what is being considered an important study into a bird that makes its home here in Ohio: the pileated woodpecker.
What You Need To Know
- The pileated woodpecker makes its habitat in Ohio and across North America
- UC researcher Ruijia Hu studied their habitats in Ohio
- Hu collaborated with bird watchers across the state who track the woodpecker online
- Woodpeckers need mature trees for their nests and food
Ruijia Hu studied migration patterns and collaborated with birders from across Ohio who post woodpecker sightings online. From that, she was able to determine the best habitats and even species of trees the woodpeckers prefer.
“For nesting, pileated woodpeckers would like maple trees, hickory trees, and oak trees,” Hu said. “And they really need mature trees to make the nest.”
Hu and her mentor, Dr. Susanna Tong, say that when developers clear older trees to build, they are destroying the habitat of the woodpeckers (and some other birds) and it can take 30-40 years for that area to be right for the birds.
“They may plant some younger trees, but those young trees won’t do the job for the woodpeckers,” Tong said. “They need the old tree. They need the wood.”
Tong said she’s not anti-development, but she hopes builders won’t just clear out all the old trees.
“We are not the only species and even in urban areas, there are other wildlife too,” Tong said. “We need to live in harmony with nature. It’s not just us.”