| dc.description.abstract | Ecology of Dinopium flamebacks (woodpeckers) in Sri Lanka is not fully comprehended.
This study investigates the nest site selection, cavity characteristics, and cavity-use by
secondary cavity users of Dinopium flamebacks in Sri Lanka. Two square kilometer areas
in Kaduwela, Eppawala, and Talaimannar were used as the study sites. Nests were located
using the line transect method, while cavities were studied using a USB-android endoscope
camera. Coconut, Rain (Maara), and Palmyra (Thal) trees were prominently chosen by
these flamebacks for nesting, constituting 64%, 50%, and 75% of nests in Kaduwela (n=33),
Eppawala (n=52), and Talaimannar (n=40) respectively. We found a range of heights and
tree species utilized by Dinopium flamebacks for nesting (n=133), ranging from 6 feet in
a betel nut tree to 50 feet in a palmyra tree. Active nest sites (n=7) exhibited 31.49 ±
20.04 % canopy cover, 6.07 ± 0.32 cm nest opening diameter, 61.85 ± 24.50 cm nest
hole circumference, 37 ± 9.90 cm nest chamber height, and 4.99 ± 2.73 m nest-toground
distance, with circular or oval-shaped openings. 57.14% of active nests (4 out of
7 in Kaduwela and Eppawala) were encircled and camouflaged by vines. Nest density
varied based on habitat, with higher densities observed in coconut plantations in wet
and arid zones and in forest habitats in the dry zone (Two-way ANOVA, p = 0.02, n
= 102). Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) were identified as a major invader,
accounting for 51% of observed nest takeovers. Studying nest site characteristics is crucial
for comprehending nesting behaviour and habitat requirements. This knowledge is useful
for designing effective conservation strategies and preserving suitable habitats for cavitynesting
communities. | en_US |
