Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • 2

2A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2012 FLORIDA TODAY FROM PAGE ONE Birds r-' "They kind of stick their head out of the hole in the morning, check that everything's safe." JAMES CURRIE, BIRDING EXPERT ing the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep them listed as endangered since 1970. While relocation efforts and habitat restoration improved the bird's lot in recent years, federal off i-. cials have no immediate plans to change its endangered status. The rarity of seeing them gets birders up early and willing to pay.

For $50, birders can take bus tours today and tomorrow to track down the woodpecker and others. They'll stop first at the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, where nine families of red-cockaded woodpeckers live. For $75, birders can join tours Friday and Saturday that start at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in the Kissimmee Prairie, one of the largest remaining expanses of dry prairie RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS Size: About the size of a cardinal Status: Endangered (listed Oct. 13, 1970) Population: Estimated at 4,500 groups with 10,000 to 12,000 birds.

Florida's population is estimated at 1,100 nesting pairs. From the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, the bird's numbers declined rapidly as mature pine forest habitat was altered for timber harvest and agriculture. Habitat: Mature pine forests specifically those with longleaf pines averaging 80 to 120 years old and loblolly pines. Why important: The birds matter to others such as chickadees, bluebirds, titmice, and species including the downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers. Larger woodpeckers may take over a red-cockaded woodpecker cavity, sometimes enlarging the hole enough to allow screech owls, wood ducks and even raccoons to move in.

Flying squirrels, several species of reptiles and amphibians, and insects also utilize woodpecker homes. Source: http:llwvm.fvn.govlrcymecoverylfileslrcwoodpecker.polf Continued from Page 1A "The birders would be very happy to get a red-cockaded," said Ned Steel, who runs Audubon's Christmas Bird Counts at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. "There's nothing spectacular about them. They just look like a little woodpecker." But the bird's rarity and the crucial niche its holes carve in nature is why the red-cockaded woodpecker remains a cherished species for birders and biologists to behold. Flying squirrels, several species of reptiles and amphibians, and insects mostly bees and wasps take refuge in the cavities this "primary excavator" pecks into pines.

Larger woodpeckers take over the cavities, sometimes enlarging the hole enough to allow screech owls, wood ducks, GOOD MORNING We enjoy hearing from our readers and advertisers. For information about getting news into FLORIDA TODAY, or questions about our news operation, call 242-3620 or 800-633-8449. Greg Watson, Sales 4 Marketing Director 321-242-3927 Bob Stover, Executive Editor Our business hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday though Friday 242-3500 or 800-633-8449 I FLORIDA TODAY Communications 1 Gannett Plaza, Melbourne FL 32940 FLORIDA TODAY (ISSN 1051-8304) is published daily by Cape Publications Inc.

Postmaster Send address change to 1 Gannett PlazaP.O. Bon 419000, Melbourne, FL 32941-9000. Periodicals postage paid at Melbourne, FL and additional offices. 2012 FLORIDA TODAY VOL 46, NO. 315 Wednesday, January 25, 2012 CORRECTIONS It is FLORIDA TODAY'S policy to promptly with information, or call 321-242-3621 or in the nation.

"It's a difficult bird to find because of very low densities, very fragmented habitat," said James Cur-rie, who hosts "Nikon's Birding Adventures" on NBC Sports and the National Geographic show "Aerial Assassins." He'll film a show during the festival to air on NBC. And on Saturday he'll lead a tour to search for the woodpecker on St. Johns River Water Management district lands along the border of Orange and Brevard counties. "They're not particularly shy," he said of spying into living pine trees. But the trees must be old enough usually 80 to 100 years to be infected with a fungus that softens the tree enough for the diminutive woodpecker to carve its cavities.

Biologists relocate the woodpeckers from fragmented habitats to healthier forests and restore natural pine forests through prescribed fires. They also drill holes in pines to help the woodpecker along. Trees are marked and the holes are reinforced so no other cavity-nesting birds can take over and forge larger holes. "I think the prospects are good for the bird," Currie said. "I think it's one of those we've managed to save." Contact Waymer at 321-242-3663 or jwaymerefloridatoday.com even raccoons to move in.

And the good news for birders: This woodpecker, considered an indicator of healthy pine forests, has been on the mend in recent years. "It's what we would call a keystone species for the cavity nesting species," Reed Bowman, a research biologist with the Archbold Biological Station in Venus, who's studied the species. "I think in most places in Florida, the populations have been increasing," Bowman said. "They are definitely improving in recent years on public lands. I would consider them bet SUBSCRIBER SERVICES Go to floridatoday.com to start a subscription.

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DIAUR HI. DEBATE TO DEAlfR. (WMfHT 8ASSD mm ter off than Florida scrub jays right now." That means more woodpeckers around to perform a welcome ecological service to man: They gobble up enormous amounts of ants, biologists say, not to mention larvae of wood-borne beetles. Biologists estimate 4,500 groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers remain, with up to 12,000 birds. Florida's population is estimated at 1,100 nesting pairs.

The bird used to live throughout much of the eastern United States. But they've died out in New Jersey, Maryland, Tennessee and Missouri, prompt- JVi FLORIDA LOTTERY 1 Monday, Jan.23 FANTASY 5 Jackpot $205,284.79 Winners: 1 Location: Titusville Other winners: 234 matched four numbers to win $141; 8,016 matched three, 84,494 matched two, Quick Pick Winning numbers: 1-14-21-29-30 Tuesday, Jan. 24 Midday Cash 3: 3-3-4 Evening Cash 3: 7-3-7 Midday Play 4: 0-1-1-2 Evening Play 4: 7-3-1-0 Fantasy 5: 14-15-17-25-32 Mega Money: 10-39-41-43 MegaBall: 3 For complete results, log onto floridatoday.com lottery at the top of each section front DM 7C CJSWS MB 9 till ON THE WEB Follow the links with this story to learn more about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Safe Harbor program and red-cockaded woocjpecker recovery plan at floridatoday.com. the woodpecker.

"The key is to get there at dawn," Currie said. "They kind of stick their head out of the hole in the morning, check that everything's safe, and take their time to come out." The red-cockaded woodpecker's decline followed the demise of old-growth pine forests in the Southeast. Loggers and developers cut pines down, and humans suppressed the natural fires that kept forests healthy. This is the only woodpecker that taps its cavity t.ur?-' GO FOR IT! I am A-sh msnm oar I rIH A WttMCKT PUIS TAX, ItTiC. SWa.SO I i I went from a size ff iii rs I yecDons 3 and aa''abQ programs so glad I did! I feel energetic, proud and Imazed! I neverfelt hungry as I was losing the weight! vfi ijijjip pjx 'yyy 1 I loved the support hum.

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