Research & Monitoring

SEI is involved in a long-term research study of the North Carolina Sandhills RCW population.  We maintain a 30-year database generated by the North Carolina State University (NCSU) RCW Research Project initiated in 1978.  Insights into RCW behavioral ecology and effective management, gained through intensive study of the Sandhills RCW population, have been applied throughout the Southeast.

Approximately 250 RCW clusters are monitored each year by SEI personnel to determine group status and reproductive effort.  SEI works on the Fort Bragg Military Installation and Camp Mackall, the state-owned Sandhills Game Land, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve and McCain, in addition to numerous privately-owned tracts in Moore and Hoke Counties in North Carolina. The scope of work entails:

• Annual cluster and cavity tree status inspections
• Routine nest checks during April-July to assess breeding effort
• Color-banding nestlings
• Fledgling checks to document reproductive success
• Comprehensive adult census to determine group composition

 LINKS:

Fort Bragg Endangered Species Branch

Weymouth Woods - Sandhills Nature Preserve

NC Wildlife Resources Commission

NC Department of Agriculture

Demographic data and cluster activity status provide useful indices for management designed to enhance RCW foraging and nesting habitat.  RCWs are considered an ‘umbrella species’ because management and conservation which promote its population growth (e.g., longer forestry rotations, prescribed fire) are also beneficial to associated species and communities.   

SEI works closely with federal and state agencies to provide management recommendations which will bolster existing RCW subpopulations, and benefit the longleaf pine ecosystem.  Management includes artificial cavity construction and cavity restricting (cavity management), prescribed fire and hardwood midstory suppression.

SEI provides financial assistance and support for cavity management and maintenance within RCW clusters found on private lands. These include, but are not limited to, clusters found on Safe Harbor properties.  SEI has facilitated construction of ~ 40 cavities for approximately 8 recruitment clusters and 12 RCW groups while working with local landowners.