The search for three-toed and white-backed woodpeckers’ nests

The reason for the search was in gathering data on structure of nesting habitat of both woodpecker species, as well as gathering information on type and structure of their and their hatchlings diet. Representatives of  IRSNC (Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation) and SFS (Slovenia forest service) searched for nests in last days of May and first days of June, before the nestlings fly out of the nests, because in that period their calls are the most intense, which makes finding the nests much easier. We focused our search for nests to the vicinity of the areas, where we noticed evidence of presence of both species in the spring recording. One of the nests of white-backed woodpecker was found in Kopa virgin forest, 15 meters above ground in partly dilapidated beech tree. Nestlings, quite mature at that point kept making noise while parents nearby at all times kept tapping on tree trunks with their beaks. The male flew in sporadically, female on the other returned every 10 minutes with beak full of white larva for the hatchlings.