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Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna density and habitat association in a potential stronghold in northern Thailand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2021

SUPATCHAYA TECHACHOOCHERT Open the ORCID record for SUPATCHAYA TECHACHOOCHERT [Opens in a new window] ,
GEORGE A. GALE ,
JENJIT KHUDAMRONGSAWAT ,
MONGKOL SAFOOWONG  and
PHILIP D. ROUND Open the ORCID record for PHILIP D. ROUND [Opens in a new window]
SUPATCHAYA TECHACHOOCHERT*
Affiliation:
Mahidol University, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Bangkok, Thailand. Mae Fah Luang Foundation, Bangkok, Thailand.
GEORGE A. GALE
Affiliation:
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources & Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
JENJIT KHUDAMRONGSAWAT
Affiliation:
Mahidol University, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Bangkok, Thailand.
MONGKOL SAFOOWONG
Affiliation:
Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Research Station, Wildlife Research Division, Wildlife Conservation Bureau - Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
PHILIP D. ROUND
Affiliation:
Mahidol University, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Bangkok, Thailand.
*
*Author for correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

Populations of the globally endangered Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna have declined significantly throughout their small world range in southern China and northern continental South-East Asia. Distance sampling and direct observations were used to estimate the density and habitat use of the Giant Nuthatch in a potential stronghold for the species, Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Thirteen line transects covering 6.2 km were established in open, pine-oak habitat favoured by the nuthatch, during November 2014 to December 2015. The mean density of Giant Nuthatch was 3.94±1.22 (95% CI = 2.15–7.22) individuals/km2. Hierarchical distance sampling models indicated that habitat use by Giant Nuthatch was strongly correlated with trees of large diameter. A pair of Giant Nuthatches was radio-tracked as they fed nestlings during the 2016 breeding season. The female’s home range, centred on the nest, was 7.79 ha (95% kernel home range), approximately one-fourth of that of the male, 32.01 ha. Giant Nuthatches showed a significant preference for foraging on pines Pinus spp. and used the fissured bark of mature pines in which to store acorns of deciduous tree species. Our research indicates the importance of large, mature trees in open pine-oak forest in supporting Giant Nuthatch populations.

Keywords

Hierarchical distance samplingdensity estimationradio telemetryfeeding ecologySitta magnaThailand
Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , June 2022 , pp. 301 - 312
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of BirdLife International

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