PERKINS, J.L.**; WALTERS, J.R.; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg: The Impact of Military Training on Reproduction and Behavior of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers

Military installations in the southeastern United States contain several of the largest remaining red-cockaded woodpecker populations. Six of the 15 installations that house red-cockaded woodpecker populations are designated primary core populations necessary for the recovery of the species. However, training restrictions are a cause of concern on military installations; many are willing to cooperate with the restrictions as applied to their existing populations but are wary of increasing them for fear of further constraints. Further, current restrictions are based on assumptions of potential impacts rather than scientific evidence. Therefore, from 2001 through 2005 we designated 19 red-cockaded woodpecker groups as control groups, subject to the current restrictions, and 19 groups as research groups having no restrictions. We found no difference between the control and unrestricted groups with respect to the proportion of groups that nested, proportion of nests that failed, partial brood loss, and number of young fledged per group. It appears that red-cockaded woodpeckers can habituate to military activity; however, further analysis of effects on cavity trees should be determined before any changes are made to existing restrictions.