A very interesting, if depressing, article in British Birds (March 2005 pp116-143 Vol 98) covers the whole topic of declines in woodland birds. The conclusion with regard to LSW was as follows; "Interactions with Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Changes in dead wood & dead wood invertebrates. This woodpecker depends critically on invertebrates in small diameter dead wood and it is possible that subtle changes may have occurred in this resource. Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been observed usurping Lesser Spotted nesting cavities and are also nest predators. Competition between these species has been suggested to occur in Sweden. Larger home ranges suggest that landscape-scale changes in tree abundance may be important".
Hi Phil,
One thing I discovered recently that may be critical (at least in the UK) is that GSWs have a juvenile dispersal strategy and/or are nomadic whereas LSWs are largely sedentary or locally nomadic. The article you have referenced was the paper for which, I attended a talk given at The Lodge (probably a year earlier). The upshot is that GSWs are strong candidates in the decline of LSWs in the UK but as the article suggests, there may be other factors (species decline never involves one factor but one is always critical).
Of course Ian, I appreciate there are several reasons and not just one. I was using that one as a good example although reduced amounts of dead wood as mentioned and other factors also come into the equation.
The species actually had an increase in numbers in the 70's which coincided with the period of Dutch Elm Disease.
However numbers have been in decline since the 80's.
A very interesting, if depressing, article in British Birds (March 2005 pp116-143 Vol 98) covers the whole topic of declines in woodland birds. The conclusion with regard to LSW was as follows; "Interactions with Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Changes in dead wood & dead wood invertebrates. This woodpecker depends critically on invertebrates in small diameter dead wood and it is possible that subtle changes may have occurred in this resource. Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been observed usurping Lesser Spotted nesting cavities and are also nest predators. Competition between these species has been suggested to occur in Sweden. Larger home ranges suggest that landscape-scale changes in tree abundance may be important".
Hi Henry, I know where you're coming from here I really do but looking from the other side of the fence I'm not sure the removal of dead standing wood from public parks is always as a result of poor management but often due more to health and safety implications. Dead standing wood can often pose a risk to the public however unlikely it may it may seem.
The lesser spotted woodpecker is largely sedentary so we can eliminate conservation problems on the wintering grounds and habitat loss does not explain the scale of decline (although it will not have helped). This leaves either a lack of food (pollution?) or competition from a more dominant species, which are both difficult to prove after the fact.
Perhaps not purely habitat loss in the case of LSW, but surely habitat degradation through poor management by beurocrats within conservation; council policy setters and the like, on a regional and nationwide scale? A prime example of this is the trend in removing most of the dead standing wood in public woods, reducing it to chippings on the floor. No snags, no LSW's; a commonality i've percieved in South Manchester's mature woodlands. Henry.
I dont know Henry,A lot of new habitats have been created,but nothing seems to prosper. Humans are overpopulating,as are corvids,There is no quietness anywhere.Even the Peat Bogs up on the tops are noisey nowadays. Take Nan Nook Wood on my Patch,No loss of Habitat,but a big loss in Birds.
-- Edited by Charles Coutts on Wednesday 6th of July 2011 06:43:38 PM
Compared to when I started birding in the late 70's/early 80's, Great Spotted Woodpeckers numbers have increased tremendously since then and have no doubt had an effect on Lessers.
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Wednesday 6th of July 2011 11:48:33 PM
My conclusion to the decline of The LSW,Cuckoo etc,Many people may laugh,but my opinion is.Noise pollution. Most secrutive birds,are in decline,they way up a nesting area,stalk it out,wait around for quietness,try to set up nests.then something noisey drives them away. Examples :Magpies chattering,Woodpigeons cooing,these birds are everywhere so no quiteness here. Next is Humans,Lots are taking up quite areas for recreation,Dog walking,Dogs barking everywhere,Jogging,Walking,taking noisey kids for a walk.Everything creates noise. As I said most people will laugh.but in a few years time I think I will be proved right. They laughed at Einstien(probably spelt wrong)as a fool,but his theories proved right.
Sorry Charles, I take it this is a recent sighting? If so then this definitely should be in the county bird sighting forum. Records of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker are rare enough in the county this year so such a good record as this deserves it's rightful place, otherwise many county birders may miss it tucked away in this discussion forum
Ive just spent 3 Days going around every nook and crannie in Wythenshawe Park searching for a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.having been informed they are around. Sunday 6am to 9am Gib Wood,Horse field,Wildflower area,Result nothing Sunday 5pm to 8pm Along Northenden Road perimiter,onto Horse Paddock and Farm,Result Nothing. Head home bright Red and sore due to the Sun. Monday 8am to 4pm Gib Wood to Little Round to Rindel Wood then onto Nan Nook Wood for a couple of hours observing nearly every tree,Nipped for a couple in The Gardeners Arrms then back to Nan Nook.Result Nothing only more Sunburn. Tuesday 10AM to 5pm Straight to Nan Wood for another look,onto Rindel again onto The Big Round then around the Hall Gardens still no sight or sound.Decided to give up and head home,headed towards Hall Lane Entrance,got to 30 yards from the way out and from the direction of the Horse paddock,the Call of what I had spent 21 hours waiting for,A LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER,I felt like crying, I was to exhausted and sore to go back and look for it. Moral of this tale.Beware to wait and search for a very long time,they are about. Its a Hard life being a Birdwatcher. KEEP BIRDING
