The Census of three-toed and white-backed woodpeckers

In March the Slovenia Forest Service started fieldwork for producing the census of three-toed and white-backed woodpeckers to establish the baseline status of the population of these two target species within the project area (Action A2). In this we are assisted by DOPPS – Bird Life Slovenia as a subcontractor.

The census is being conducted at over 300 selected locations using playback of territorial woodpecker drumming. So far we have confirmed the presence of white-backed woodpecker on 15 locations and the presence of three-toed woodpecker on 10 locations.

The latter inhabits forest at higher altitudes where winter conditions still persist.  Some of the census locations are very difficult to reach due to high snow cover, therefore some of the workers are also using skies. For the census we are using loudspeakers, mp3 players and binoculars purchased within the project. The results of the census will be digitalized, statistically analyses and the final report will be published on the project website.