caa a22 4500 46317562X CHVBK 20180406164825.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170326e20071201xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10336-007-0166-9 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10336-007-0166-9 The importance of excavators in hole-nesting communities: availability and use of natural tree holes in old mixed forests of western Canada [Elektronische Daten] [Kathryn Aitken, Kathy Martin] Nest-holes created by woodpeckers or natural decay processes are an essential commodity for secondary hole-nesting species. Hole-making agents may strongly influence the richness and abundance of species in hole-nester communities. However, few studies have examined the characteristics and relative importance of naturally occurring holes for hole-nesters. Between 1995 and 2006, we examined 1371 excavated and non-excavated holes used by 29 bird and mammal species in central British Columbia, Canada. Excavated holes were much more abundant (85%) than non-excavated holes (15%). Red-naped sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) and northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) excavated 52% of the holes monitored. At the community level, non-excavated holes were used for nesting less than expected based on their availability (6% of total nests), particularly among woodpeckers (2% of nests). However, secondary hole-nesters used non-excavated holes roughly in proportion to their availability (10% of nests), and some excavators used non-excavated holes for nesting (flicker and red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, 4% of nests each; black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus, 13% of nests). Although nests in non-excavated holes tended to be lower on the tree, larger internally and with larger entrances, only European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) appeared to select non-excavated holes with characteristics most similar to their preferred excavated holes. Non-excavated holes may be an alternate nesting resource for secondary hole-nesters that cannot acquire an excavated hole and, occasionally, for excavators. The use of non-excavated holes may provide an advantage for secondary hole-nesters by releasing them from the constraints of excavator nest-site preferences. Dt. Ornithologen-Gesellschaft e.V., 2007 Hole-nesting birds and mammals nationallicence Importance of excavators nationallicence Keystone excavators nationallicence Natural holes nationallicence Secondary hole-nesters nationallicence Aitken Kathryn Centre for Applied Conservation Research, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, B.C., Canada aut Martin Kathy Centre for Applied Conservation Research, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, B.C., Canada aut Journal of Ornithology Springer-Verlag 148(2007-12-01), 425-434 0021-8375 148<425 2007 148 10336 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0166-9 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 review-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0166-9 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Aitken Kathryn Centre for Applied Conservation Research, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, B.C., Canada aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Martin Kathy Centre for Applied Conservation Research, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, B.C., Canada aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Journal of Ornithology Springer-Verlag 148(2007-12-01), 425-434 0021-8375 148<425 2007 148 10336 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer