Abstract:
The pileated woodpecker is designated a Management
Indicator Species in a majority of Forest Plans in Region One. Pileated
woodpeckers in western Montana and Northern Idaho are dependent upon large
diameter ponderosa pine, western larch, and western redcedar snags for
nesting. In eastern Montana, outside the range of pileated woodpeckers,
northern flickers are a species that is ecologically homologous to the
pileated woodpecker, and which nest in large diameter Douglas-fir. Potential
Habitat for the pileated woodpecker was defined as those sites capable
of growing large diameter ponderosa pine, western larch, and western redcedar,
west of the Continental Divide, and Douglas-fir east of the Continental
Divide. Potential habitat was mapped using a combination of PNVs, elevation,
and area (<6200' west of the Continental Divide and <7400' east
of the Continental Divide). Existing habitat was mapped by limiting potential
habitat to certain size classes, crown closure categories (>40% west
of the Continental Divide and >25% east of the Continental Divide),
and stands that had not been regeneration-logged since the layer was created
using TSMRS.
To further assess snag attrition within existing
habitat, existing habitat was categorized using TSMRS as either having
had previous single-tree-selection timber harvests, or not having had
previous treatments. Acreages in both categories were summarized for
analysis purposes, but not mapped.
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