Endangered Inktober - Okinawa Woodpecker by CiamethDay 11 - Okinawa Woodpecker, Dendrocopos noguch
Endangered Inktober - Okinawa Woodpecker by Ciameth Day 11 - Okinawa Woodpecker, Dendrocopos noguchiiIUCN Status: Critically EndangeredThe Okinawa Woodpecker is endemic to Okinawa Island, Japan. The species requires mature subtropical forest to thrive, but most of this habitat has been eradicated from Okinawa through logging, dam construction, agricultural development, military activity, roadways, and golf course construction. The Okinawa Woodpecker spends significant time foraging on the ground relative to other woodpecker species, which makes it vulnerable to introduced predators like domestic cats and mongooses. Recently, the construction of six new helipads around woodpecker habitat and low-altitude U.S. Military aircraft flights have correlated with increased Okinawa Woodpecker mortality from glass strike.There are between 50 and 250 Okinawa Woodpeckers left, and the population is declining at a rate of 10-19% a year. Though the Okinawa Woodpecker lives within protected habitat, it would benefit from eradication of invasive predators and greater restrictions on military activity within the bird’s range - or at least during the breeding season. Expanding forest cover, connecting fragmented habitat with forest corridors, and supplying nest boxes are other conservation actions that would help the Okinawa Woodpecker population recover. -- source link
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