CAVITY-NESTING BIRD HABITAT UTILIZATION IN RESTORED RIPARIAN WOODLANDS OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Holly J Cochran; California State University, Chico; hcochran@mail.csuchico.edu; Don Miller, Raymond J. Bogiatto, Kathy Gray

Remnant and restored riparian woodland habitat are important to cavity-nesting bird species (CNB). I performed vegetation and cavity surveys in both habitat types to assess potential habitat usage by CNB and compare colonization rates between differently aged restored woodlands. The proportion of trees with available nesting substrate and snags was similar in both old restored (aged 16-19 years) and remnant forests, but more cavities were excavated in old restored forests than remnant. The high number of cavities in remnant forests was attributed mostly to natural cavities that occur in very mature trees.