A Feathered Friend Returns

A Feathered Friend Returns. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. , One of the most famous longleaf pine forest residents is the red-cockaded woodpecker , RCW to their friends. This species used to live throughout the Southeast and as far west as Texas and Oklahoma. Unfortunately RCW numbers declined with the destruction of longleaf pine forests. Today only 1% of the woodpecker's original population still exists. They are listed as endangered on the Endangered Species Act., With the decline of our longleaf pine forest, there were no red-cockaded woodpeckers here in Hitchcock Woods for over 60 years. Thanks to the restoration efforts of the Hitchcock Woods Foundation, our woods are now a healthy habitat for RCWs. These endangered birds were reintroduced to our forest in 2016 through a partnership with the Francis Marion National Forest. Today they are thriving., Artificial Nesting Boxes , Since it can take a red-cockaded woodpecker years to peck out a cavity for nesting, Hitchcock Woods Foundation installed artificial nesting boxes in open areas of longleaf pines. The new woodpeckers were happ[y to move in and are now building their own natural cavities!, What to look for: , Look for a black and white bird about the size of a cardinal. Listen for their raspy call., Did you know? , Red-cockaded woodpeckers are the only woodpecker in the world that carves its home exclusively in living pines, preferably longleaf pines.