Feeding behaviors of Bark Feeding behaviors of Bark Probing and Bark Gleaning Probing and Bark Gleaning

BirdsBirds

By: Zac WertBy: Zac Wert

Steph FindleySteph Findley

Jonathan ConferJonathan Confer

IntroductionIntroduction

Bark-probing birds and bark-gleaning birds Bark-probing birds and bark-gleaning birds compete against each other for the same compete against each other for the same prey.prey.

All woodpeckers are insectivores All woodpeckers are insectivores

Each has its own way of foraging which Each has its own way of foraging which keeps them from out sourcing each other. keeps them from out sourcing each other.

HypothesisHypothesis

The foraging behaviors and habitat The foraging behaviors and habitat selection will differ between species of selection will differ between species of bark probing and bark gleaning birdsbark probing and bark gleaning birds

Foraging CharacteristicsForaging Characteristics

Bark probing is looking and probing Bark probing is looking and probing beneath the bark.beneath the bark.

Bark prying is when the bird is prying up Bark prying is when the bird is prying up pieces of bark to reach insects pieces of bark to reach insects underneath.underneath.

Foraging CharacteristicsForaging Characteristics

Bark gleaning is when the bird eats from Bark gleaning is when the bird eats from the surface of the tree only and does not the surface of the tree only and does not forage under the bark.forage under the bark.

Bark pecking is when the bird chips away Bark pecking is when the bird chips away the bark to reach the xylem of the tree the bark to reach the xylem of the tree directly beneath. directly beneath.

Locations where Observations were TakenLocations where Observations were Taken

Conrad Weiser State Forest Conrad Weiser State Forest located on Rt. 42 approx. 12 located on Rt. 42 approx. 12

miles south of Bloomsburg miles south of Bloomsburg Mixed hardwood forest including: Mixed hardwood forest including: black black

cherrycherry ( (Prunus serotina), Prunus serotina), sugar maplesugar maple ((Acer saccharumAcer saccharum), ), red maplered maple ( (Acer Acer rubrum), rubrum), white oakwhite oak (Quercus alba), (Quercus alba), American elmAmerican elm (Ulmus americana) (Ulmus americana) and and shagbark hickoryshagbark hickory (Carya ovata(Carya ovata). There is ). There is also a large stand of also a large stand of Eastern hemlocksEastern hemlocks ((Tsuga canadensis)Tsuga canadensis). .

Locations where Observations were TakenLocations where Observations were Taken

Lititz, Pennsylvania (Zac’s backyard)Lititz, Pennsylvania (Zac’s backyard) This area had trees that included: This area had trees that included:

sugar maplesugar maple ( (Acer saccharum), Acer saccharum), black black locustlocust (Robinia pseudoacacia), (Robinia pseudoacacia), black black walnutwalnut ( (Juglans nigra)Juglans nigra), , red oakred oak (( Quercus rubra). Quercus rubra).

Feeding was primarily done on the Feeding was primarily done on the sugar maple, black locust and black sugar maple, black locust and black walnut. walnut.

Locations where Observations were TakenLocations where Observations were Taken

White Hall, Pennsylvania (Jon’s Backyard)White Hall, Pennsylvania (Jon’s Backyard)– Near Montour PreserveNear Montour Preserve

Jon’s backyard has Jon’s backyard has sugar maplesugar maple ( (Acer Acer saccharumsaccharum), ), black walnutblack walnut ( (Juglans nigraJuglans nigra), ), red maplered maple ( (Acer rubrum)Acer rubrum), and white pines , and white pines (Pinus strobus) (Pinus strobus)

Observation TechniqueObservation Technique- Methods- Methods

Birds were observed using binocularsBirds were observed using binoculars

The birds were observed for a short period of time-creating a The birds were observed for a short period of time-creating a snapshot image of the bird. snapshot image of the bird. – Notes were taken on that snapshot.Notes were taken on that snapshot.

Observations were written down in waterproof notebooksObservations were written down in waterproof notebooks

Feeding height was estimated Feeding height was estimated

Tree height categorized into:Tree height categorized into: lower region = 0ft to 10ftlower region = 0ft to 10ft middle region = 10ft to 20ftmiddle region = 10ft to 20ft upper region = 20ft to 30ftupper region = 20ft to 30ft

Observation TechniqueObservation Technique- Methods- Methods

Tree size (diameter) categorized into:Tree size (diameter) categorized into:– Large: Greater than 10 inches in diameterLarge: Greater than 10 inches in diameter– Medium: 5-10 inches in diameterMedium: 5-10 inches in diameter– Small: Less than 5 inches in diameterSmall: Less than 5 inches in diameter– Branches: Not feeding on the trunk of the treeBranches: Not feeding on the trunk of the tree

Side of the tree the bird fed on:Side of the tree the bird fed on:– ShadedShaded– SunnySunny– AllAll

Hairy WoodpeckerHairy Woodpecker((Picoides villosus)Picoides villosus)

Observed Hairy Woodpecker Observed Hairy Woodpecker Feeding BehaviorsFeeding Behaviors

Observed foraging for food at all three height Observed foraging for food at all three height elevationselevations– The hairy woodpeckers worked from the bottom of the tree The hairy woodpeckers worked from the bottom of the tree

and worked their way up the side of the tree at a quick pace.and worked their way up the side of the tree at a quick pace.– This would go on until they found a place that seemed ideal This would go on until they found a place that seemed ideal

and they would stay there for a few minutes foraging under and they would stay there for a few minutes foraging under the bark.the bark.

Observed foraging on specific trees not random Observed foraging on specific trees not random onesones– The hairy woodpeckers were seen foraging on shagbark The hairy woodpeckers were seen foraging on shagbark

hickories and white oak. hickories and white oak.

Observed Hairy Woodpecker Observed Hairy Woodpecker Feeding BehaviorsFeeding Behaviors

Observed foraging on shaded side of treeObserved foraging on shaded side of tree

Observed that pecking was not just random fast Observed that pecking was not just random fast motion, birds angled heads to get underneath the motion, birds angled heads to get underneath the bark and chip away pieces. bark and chip away pieces.

After the bird left the tree, we observed the insect After the bird left the tree, we observed the insect damage. It was determined that there was extensive damage. It was determined that there was extensive beetle damage, and larva were also found under the beetle damage, and larva were also found under the bark of one tree the hairy fed on. bark of one tree the hairy fed on.

Downy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker ((Picoides pubescens)Picoides pubescens)

Observed Downy Woodpecker Observed Downy Woodpecker Feeding BehaviorsFeeding Behaviors

Observed foraging in the lower two thirds of Observed foraging in the lower two thirds of height elevations of trees height elevations of trees

0ft to 30ft0ft to 30ft

Similar feeding behaviors as a hairy Similar feeding behaviors as a hairy woodpecker (not quite as aggressive when woodpecker (not quite as aggressive when pecking).pecking).

Tufted TitmouseTufted Titmouse ( (Baeolophus bicolorBaeolophus bicolor))

Observed Tufted Titmouse Observed Tufted Titmouse Feeding BehaviorsFeeding Behaviors

Observed in the upper and middle regions of Observed in the upper and middle regions of tree heights tree heights

20ft to 30ft20ft to 30ft10ft to 20ft10ft to 20ft

The titmouse was also seen perched in the The titmouse was also seen perched in the crotch of the tree on a branch, and flying at the crotch of the tree on a branch, and flying at the trunk to chip away bark.trunk to chip away bark.– The titmouse would then fly back to the perch and The titmouse would then fly back to the perch and

watch the area that was just pecked. They would then watch the area that was just pecked. They would then forage the area.forage the area.

Brown Creeper Brown Creeper ((Certhia americanaCerthia americana))

Observed Brown Creeper Observed Brown Creeper Feeding BehaviorsFeeding Behaviors

Observed in lower and middle regions of tree Observed in lower and middle regions of tree heights heights

0ft to 20ft0ft to 20ft

The creeper started at 2ft and worked its way up The creeper started at 2ft and worked its way up the tree to about 20 ft. the tree to about 20 ft. – It would then move to a different tree.It would then move to a different tree.– Visual feeding, would only feed on insects it could see Visual feeding, would only feed on insects it could see

and would never pick or dig at the tree. and would never pick or dig at the tree.

Northern FlickerNorthern Flicker ( (Coleptes auratusColeptes auratus))

Observed Northern Flicker Observed Northern Flicker Feeding BehaviorsFeeding Behaviors

Observed in upper and middle regions of the feeding Observed in upper and middle regions of the feeding areaarea 10 ft - 30 ft10 ft - 30 ft

The flicker was observed starting at the base of a branch The flicker was observed starting at the base of a branch and working its way up in a spiral (foraging on all sides of and working its way up in a spiral (foraging on all sides of the tree).the tree).

In one observation it stopped at the holes already made In one observation it stopped at the holes already made on the tree to forage inside. on the tree to forage inside.

White-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted Nuthatch ( (Sitta carolinensisSitta carolinensis))

Observed White-breasted Observed White-breasted Nuthatch Feeding BehaviorsNuthatch Feeding Behaviors

Observed feeding in all regions of the tree. Observed feeding in all regions of the tree.

The nuthatch was observed feeding head The nuthatch was observed feeding head down and worked its way down the tree in down and worked its way down the tree in a spiral.a spiral.

The nuthatch foraged by gleaning. The nuthatch foraged by gleaning.

Discussion on ObservationsDiscussion on Observations

It was observed that all regions of the tree were It was observed that all regions of the tree were utilized when the birds were foraging alone. utilized when the birds were foraging alone.

Pecking and gleaning were the main foraging types Pecking and gleaning were the main foraging types that was observed in all species of bark-probing that was observed in all species of bark-probing birds. birds.

The food that the birds were foraging for was also The food that the birds were foraging for was also universal.universal.– Beetles, ants and wood-boring insectsBeetles, ants and wood-boring insects

An overwhelming majority of the birds were An overwhelming majority of the birds were observed foraging on the shaded side of the tree. observed foraging on the shaded side of the tree.

Discussion of ObservationsDiscussion of Observations-What sets them apart?-What sets them apart?

20ft to 30ft

10ft to 20ft

0ft to 10ft

Tufted titmouse, Hairy,

N. Flicker, Nuthatch

Hairy, Nuthatch,

Tufted titmouse,

Downy, N. Flicker

Hairy,

Brown creeper,

Nuthatch, Downy

What sets them apart?What sets them apart?

When there were more than one When there were more than one species of bark-probing birds species of bark-probing birds

foraging on the same tree, they each foraging on the same tree, they each foraged in different areas.foraged in different areas.

Observational example:Observational example:

Ex. It was observed that a hairy Ex. It was observed that a hairy woodpecker and a white-breasted woodpecker and a white-breasted nuthatch were foraging on the same tree.nuthatch were foraging on the same tree.– The nuthatch was seen foraging on the lower The nuthatch was seen foraging on the lower

region of the tree while the hairy foraged on region of the tree while the hairy foraged on the middle region of the tree. the middle region of the tree.

– Each bird forages by gleaning but the hairy Each bird forages by gleaning but the hairy has also been seen pecking, probing and has also been seen pecking, probing and prying. prying.

ConclusionConclusion

It was observed that the foraging It was observed that the foraging behaviors and habitat selection were behaviors and habitat selection were different among the observed speciesdifferent among the observed species..

Thank You For ListeningThank You For Listening

Any Questions?????????Any Questions?????????

Corbin is a beast!!!