Past Webcasts

Ecology of Red-headed Woodpeckers in a threatened ecosystem: insights from a long-term investigation in oak savannas

(11am CT, 10am MT, 9am PT)

Red-headed Woodpecker populations have declined throughout much of their range, and the species is now listed as Threatened in Canada and several U.S. states. Although the red-headed Woodpecker is a charismatic species, their nesting habits and population fluctuations make them a challenge to study. This, in part, may explain why we know less about their natural history relative to other North American woodpeckers. In this presentation, Dr. Elena West will share insights from a long-term study of red-headed woodpeckers in Minnesota, with a focus on their habitat needs, conservation, and recommendations for land managers.

(photograph by Siah St. Clair)

Guest

Elena West

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Applied Avian Ecologist

Dr. Elena West is an applied avian ecologist and her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms driving behavior and population trends of birds in human-modified landscapes. Her work draws upon interdisciplinary approaches, including community science data, spatial analyses, landscape-scale acoustic monitoring, and quantitative tools to provide applied outcomes for pressing conservation and management issues. Dr. West is a faculty member in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.