{"id":145432,"date":"2019-01-29T08:43:07","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T13:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=145432"},"modified":"2023-06-27T12:16:56","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T16:16:56","slug":"birds-seek-goldilocks-fires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2019\/01\/birds-seek-goldilocks-fires\/","title":{"rendered":"The Birds Who Seek Out Goldilocks Fires"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"grey-sidebar floating-sidebar col-xs-12 col-sm-4\">\n  <br \/>\n\u201cI have radio transmitters on fledgling woodpeckers in California as we speak,&#8221; Stillman says. &#8220;We think they disperse away from home in search of newly burned areas, but we don\u2019t know how they find the fires. Once the landscape recovers and the woodpeckers leave, we don\u2019t know where they go.\u201d<br \/>\nOn a recent trip out West, Stillman had difficulty in locating some of the birds carrying transmitters. Instead, he found pilots who could fly him around, covering greater distances in order to track down the birds. He discovered the birds were traveling much vaster distances than previously thought.<br \/>\nFor capturing adults and attaching the transmitters, the researchers go into the forest and put up a large, fine mesh net. When they play a drumming call, territorial adults will seek out the source and fly into the net. But the fledglings are another story. Listen to Stillman recount how he attaches transmitters to fledglings:<\/p>\n<p><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-145432-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Stillman012419snippet.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Stillman012419snippet.mp3\">https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Stillman012419snippet.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/p>\n<p><\/aside>\n<p>As wildfires become more prevalent and more severe, these \u2018megafires\u2019 are not only deadly and destructive, they may also negatively affect wildlife species that depend on habitat that lies in their wake, according to new research published in the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/epdf\/10.1111\/1365-2664.13328\">Journal of Applied Ecology<\/a><\/em> by UConn researchers working with the Institute for Bird Populations and the U.S. Forest Service.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGlobally, and especially in the American West, we see a trend toward fires becoming larger and more severe,&#8221; says Andrew Stillman, a Ph.D. student and lead author of the study. &#8220;Unfortunately, these fires are becoming the new norm, due to a combination of drought, fire suppression, forest pests, and the effects of climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Morgan Tingley and explains that some species are dependent on wildfires. The black-backed woodpecker, for example, feeds on beetle larvae that bore into the trunks of dead trees left standing after a severe fire. Groups of these skeleton-like trees are called \u2018snag forests.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_145453\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-145453\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-145453 img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A burned valley, where black-backed woodpeckers forage for grubs in dead trees. Groups of these skeleton-like trees are called 'snag forests.' (Photo by Jean Hall)\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1-150x100.jpg 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 550px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 550\/367;\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-145453\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A burned valley, where black-backed woodpeckers forage for grubs in dead trees. Groups of these skeleton-like trees are called &#8216;snag forests.&#8217; (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhen a fire burns hot and moves across the landscape, it leaves behind a forest of snags that provide a feast for beetles and their grubs, which in turn are food for larger animals,&#8221; Stillman says.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s a good thing when a fire burns at a diversity of intensities,&#8221; he adds, &#8220;because it leaves behind a variety of habitats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Megafires,\u00a0on the other hand, are exceptionally large, intense fires that create uniform landscapes of burned habitat.<\/p>\n<p>The beetles that black-backed woodpeckers prefer to feed on live in the wood of dead or dying trees, which makes burned forest the ideal place for the woodpeckers to forage. The birds are considered a keystone species \u2013 one that numerous other species depend on, and often vital for the habitat \u2013 because they excavate holes in trees to use for nests. These same holes later enable other birds to nest, once the black-backed woodpeckers vacate the tree.<\/p>\n<p>Stillman says the beetles seem to seek out recently burned trees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe beetles come in very rapidly after the fire,&#8221; he says. &#8220;We\u2019ve heard accounts from firefighters who have watched swarms of beetles coming in and laying their eggs in trees that are still warm from fire.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n  <p>Black-backed woodpeckers prefer forests that are burned just right \u2013 not too hot, not too cold. <cite> &#8212 Andrew Stillman<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Soon the black-backed woodpeckers follow, seeking out the beetle grubs to feed on, and they also excavate trees to make nests for their young. &#8220;Black-backed woodpeckers are an enigmatic species that loves recently burned forests,&#8221; says Tingley. Since they thrive on recently dead trees, they might be expected to love huge, severe fires, where every tree has been killed. &#8220;What we found, however,&#8221; he adds, &#8220;is that it is not that simple.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Stillman says megafires result in vast, uniform landscapes of burned habitat with less diverse landscapes.\u00a0&#8220;Essentially, there is no cover left for young woodpeckers to hide from predators,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Black-backed woodpeckers prefer forests that are burned just right \u2013 not too hot, not too cold \u2013 but these preferences appear to shift, depending on what stage of life the particular bird is in. Stillman says juveniles seem to prefer more cover, probably to protect them from predators that hunt from high above, so they can be found in areas that have not been burned as intensely. On the other hand, adults prefer snag forests with burned \u2013 but not too far deteriorated\u00a0\u2013 trees, for foraging.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wonderplugingallery-container\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-container-221\" style=\"max-width:630px;margin:0 auto;\"><div class=\"wonderplugingallery\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-221\" data-galleryid=\"221\" data-width=\"630\" data-height=\"420\" data-skin=\"light\" data-random=\"false\" data-autoslide=\"false\" data-autoplayvideo=\"false\" data-schemamarkup=\"false\" data-stopallplaying=\"false\" data-reloadonvideoend=\"false\" data-enabletabindex=\"false\" data-loadnextonvideoend=\"false\" data-hidetitlewhenvideoisplaying=\"false\" data-disablehovereventontouch=\"false\" data-autoslideandplayafterfirstplayed=\"false\" data-html5player=\"true\" data-responsive=\"true\" data-fullwidth=\"false\" data-showtitle=\"true\" data-showdescription=\"true\" data-showplaybutton=\"true\" data-showfullscreenbutton=\"true\" data-showtimer=\"true\" data-showcarousel=\"true\" data-galleryshadow=\"false\" data-slideshadow=\"true\" data-thumbshowtitle=\"false\" data-thumbshadow=\"true\" data-lightboxshowtitle=\"false\" data-lightboxshowdescription=\"true\" data-specifyid=\"true\" data-donotinit=\"false\" data-addinitscript=\"false\" data-triggerresize=\"false\" data-thumbcolumnsresponsive=\"false\" data-showimgtitle=\"false\" data-titlesmallscreen=\"false\" data-initsocial=\"true\" data-showsocial=\"false\" data-showemail=\"false\" data-showfacebook=\"true\" data-showtwitter=\"true\" data-showpinterest=\"true\" data-socialrotateeffect=\"true\" data-doshortcodeontext=\"false\" data-duration=\"1500\" data-slideduration=\"1000\" data-slideshowinterval=\"6000\" data-googleanalyticsaccount=\"\" data-resizemode=\"fit\" data-imagetoolboxmode=\"mouseover\" data-effect=\"fade\" data-padding=\"12\" data-bgcolor=\"\" data-bgimage=\"\" data-thumbwidth=\"48\" data-thumbheight=\"48\" data-thumbgap=\"8\" data-thumbrowgap=\"16\" data-lightboxtextheight=\"72\" data-lightboxtitlecss=\"{color:#333333; font:bold 12px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; line-height:18px;}\" data-lightboxdescriptioncss=\"{color:#333333; font:normal 12px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; line-height:14px;}\" data-titlecss=\"{color:#ffffff; font-size:14px; font-family:Armata, sans-serif, Arial; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; text-align:left; padding:10px 0px 10px 10px;  background:rgb(102, 102, 102) transparent; background:rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.6); display:none;}\" data-descriptioncss=\"{color:#ffffff; font-size:12px; font-family:Armata, sans-serif, Arial; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; text-align:left; padding:10px;  background:rgb(102, 102, 102) transparent; background:rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.6);}\" data-titleheight=\"72\" data-titlesmallscreenwidth=\"640\" data-titleheightsmallscreen=\"148\" data-socialmode=\"mouseover\" data-socialposition=\"position:absolute;top:8px;right:8px;\" data-socialpositionlightbox=\"position:absolute;top:8px;right:8px;\" data-socialdirection=\"horizontal\" data-socialbuttonsize=\"32\" data-socialbuttonfontsize=\"18\" data-triggerresizedelay=\"100\" data-thumbmediumsize=\"800\" data-thumbsmallsize=\"480\" data-thumbmediumwidth=\"64\" data-thumbmediumheight=\"64\" data-thumbsmallwidth=\"48\" data-thumbsmallheight=\"48\" data-imgtitle=\"title\" data-jsfolder=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/plugins\/wonderplugin-library\/engine\/\" style=\"display:none;\" ><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Crew1_cropped.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Crew1_cropped-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Researchers prepare to gather data on woodpecker habitat associations. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Crew1_cropped\" data-description=\"Researchers prepare to gather data on woodpecker habitat associations. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Researchers prepare to gather data on woodpecker habitat associations. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Crew1_cropped<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Researchers prepare to gather data on woodpecker habitat associations. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Crew2.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Crew2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Measuring habitat characteristics that affect woodpeckers in burned forests. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Crew2\" data-description=\"Measuring habitat characteristics that affect woodpeckers in burned forests. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Measuring habitat characteristics that affect woodpeckers in burned forests. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Crew2<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Measuring habitat characteristics that affect woodpeckers in burned forests. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Crew3.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Crew3-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Researchers place a radio-transmitter on a young black-backed woodpecker. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Crew3\" data-description=\"Researchers place a radio-transmitter on a young black-backed woodpecker. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Researchers place a radio-transmitter on a young black-backed woodpecker. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Crew3<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Researchers place a radio-transmitter on a young black-backed woodpecker. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Ladder1.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Ladder1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"A crew of field scientists pulls a ladder vertical, allowing access to a woodpecker nest without damaging the nest tree. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Ladder1\" data-description=\"A crew of field scientists pulls a ladder vertical, allowing access to a woodpecker nest without damaging the nest tree. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">A crew of field scientists pulls a ladder vertical, allowing access to a woodpecker nest without damaging the nest tree. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Ladder1<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">A crew of field scientists pulls a ladder vertical, allowing access to a woodpecker nest without damaging the nest tree. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Ladder2.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Ladder2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Lead researcher Andrew Stillman climbs a vertical ladder to access woodpecker nests.  (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Ladder2\" data-description=\"Lead researcher Andrew Stillman climbs a vertical ladder to access woodpecker nests.  (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Lead researcher Andrew Stillman climbs a vertical ladder to access woodpecker nests.  (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Ladder2<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Lead researcher Andrew Stillman climbs a vertical ladder to access woodpecker nests.  (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Ladder3.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Ladder3-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Black-backed woodpeckers nest in stands of dead trees after a wildfire, where researchers locate their nests and climb ladders to radio-tag nestlings.  (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Ladder3\" data-description=\"Black-backed woodpeckers nest in stands of dead trees after a wildfire, where researchers locate their nests and climb ladders to radio-tag nestlings.  (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Black-backed woodpeckers nest in stands of dead trees after a wildfire, where researchers locate their nests and climb ladders to radio-tag nestlings.  (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Ladder3<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Black-backed woodpeckers nest in stands of dead trees after a wildfire, where researchers locate their nests and climb ladders to radio-tag nestlings.  (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Ladder4.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Ladder4-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Lead researcher Andrew Stillman climbs a vertical ladder to access woodpecker nests. (Photo by Roland Tice)\" data-title=\"Ladder4\" data-description=\"Lead researcher Andrew Stillman climbs a vertical ladder to access woodpecker nests. (Photo by Roland Tice)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Lead researcher Andrew Stillman climbs a vertical ladder to access woodpecker nests. (Photo by Roland Tice)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Ladder4<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Lead researcher Andrew Stillman climbs a vertical ladder to access woodpecker nests. (Photo by Roland Tice)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Snowfall in late June puts a cap of clouds over a burned valley, where black-backed woodpeckers forage for grubs in dead trees.  (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Landscape1\" data-description=\"Snowfall in late June puts a cap of clouds over a burned valley, where black-backed woodpeckers forage for grubs in dead trees.  (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Snowfall in late June puts a cap of clouds over a burned valley, where black-backed woodpeckers forage for grubs in dead trees.  (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Landscape1<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Snowfall in late June puts a cap of clouds over a burned valley, where black-backed woodpeckers forage for grubs in dead trees.  (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape2.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Life flourishes after wildfire, as species take advantage of new resources and open habitat. The yellow flower, known as Mule\u2019s Ear, benefits from the post-fire habitat.  (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Landscape2\" data-description=\"Life flourishes after wildfire, as species take advantage of new resources and open habitat. The yellow flower, known as Mule\u2019s Ear, benefits from the post-fire habitat.  (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Life flourishes after wildfire, as species take advantage of new resources and open habitat. The yellow flower, known as Mule\u2019s Ear, benefits from the post-fire habitat.  (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Landscape2<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Life flourishes after wildfire, as species take advantage of new resources and open habitat. The yellow flower, known as Mule\u2019s Ear, benefits from the post-fire habitat.  (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape3.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Landscape3-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Post-fire logging can threaten black-backed woodpeckers and other species that benefit from wildfire. (Morgan Tingley\/UConn Photo)\" data-title=\"Landscape3\" data-description=\"Post-fire logging can threaten black-backed woodpeckers and other species that benefit from wildfire. (Morgan Tingley\/UConn Photo)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Post-fire logging can threaten black-backed woodpeckers and other species that benefit from wildfire. (Morgan Tingley\/UConn Photo)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Landscape3<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Post-fire logging can threaten black-backed woodpeckers and other species that benefit from wildfire. (Morgan Tingley\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Tracking1.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Tracking1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew Stillman uses radio-telemetry to track the movements of black-backed woodpeckers in post-fire areas. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Tracking1\" data-description=\"Andrew Stillman uses radio-telemetry to track the movements of black-backed woodpeckers in post-fire areas. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Andrew Stillman uses radio-telemetry to track the movements of black-backed woodpeckers in post-fire areas. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Tracking1<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Andrew Stillman uses radio-telemetry to track the movements of black-backed woodpeckers in post-fire areas. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Tracking2.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Tracking2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Andrew Stillman uses radio-telemetry to track the movements of black-backed woodpeckers in post-fire areas. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Tracking2\" data-description=\"Andrew Stillman uses radio-telemetry to track the movements of black-backed woodpeckers in post-fire areas. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Andrew Stillman uses radio-telemetry to track the movements of black-backed woodpeckers in post-fire areas. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Tracking2<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Andrew Stillman uses radio-telemetry to track the movements of black-backed woodpeckers in post-fire areas. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Woodpecker1.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Woodpecker1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. The antenna used to track the bird is visible on the tagged fledgling. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Woodpecker1\" data-description=\"Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. The antenna used to track the bird is visible on the tagged fledgling. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. The antenna used to track the bird is visible on the tagged fledgling. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Woodpecker1<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. The antenna used to track the bird is visible on the tagged fledgling. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Woodpecker2.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Woodpecker2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" data-title=\"Woodpecker2\" data-description=\"Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. (Photo by Jean Hall)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Woodpecker2<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. (Photo by Jean Hall)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Woodpecker3.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Woodpecker3-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. (Morgan Tingley\/UConn Photo)\" data-title=\"Woodpecker3\" data-description=\"Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. (Morgan Tingley\/UConn Photo)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. (Morgan Tingley\/UConn Photo)<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Woodpecker3<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Black-backed woodpeckers make a living in burned forests, where they feast on grubs that live in dead trees. (Morgan Tingley\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>In other words, the population of black-backed woodpeckers benefits from fires that yield pyrodiverse habitats \u2013 areas that burned at various different levels of severity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn general, more species benefit when there is greater diversity in habitats,&#8221; Stillman notes. &#8220;A major benefit from pyrodiversity is that it provides variation in habitat that benefits a wider array of bird species. This research shows that more fire is not always good, and that even post-fire specialist species have a limit to what they can take.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A structurally diverse post-fire forest will support a more diverse animal community. If grubs are the <a href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2018\/09\/insects-coping-climate-change\/\">hamburger meat of the forest<\/a>, a post-fire forest is a veritable feast for woodpeckers and other species that need these habitats.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers also note that post-fire management strategies can help create more diverse landscapes. And in a time of growing fire intensity, post-management strategies may be crucial going forward,<\/p>\n<p>The study&#8217;s findings also have significant implications for management practices that aim to support biodiversity in fire-prone areas while balancing the economic needs of timber supply.<\/p>\n<p>Post-fire forests are sometimes logged very heavily after a fire burns. \u201cFor the species that depend on burned areas, logging can remove the unique habitat these species need to survive, Stillman says. &#8220;But humans have the ability to determine which areas are affected the most by logging activities. Should we take timber from areas burned at high severity or low severity? This paper really informs that debate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>This study was made possible by funding from Plumas National Forest, the Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service, and the UConn EEB Zoology Award (2016, 2017).<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Black-backed woodpeckers prefer forests that are burned just right \u2013 not too hot, not too cold. But as wildfires become more intense, megafires are not creating a sufficient diversity of habitats.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":145452,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2226,2459,2076,2387,1875,2225],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2093],"class_list":["post-145432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-clas","category-graduate-students","category-research","category-sustainability","category-grad-school","category-uconn-storrs"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-09 05:36:24","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145432"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":145441,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145432\/revisions\/145441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/145452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145432"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=145432"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=145432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}