Long-distance homing of a translocated red-cockaded woodpecker

An isolated, unpaired, male red-cockaded woodpecker, in danger of losing its habitat because of a planned timber harvest, was moved 16.7 km to a reserve in Vernon Parish, LA. Subsequent observations show that the bird returned to the captive site, despite being relocated twice more. After the third translocation, he was again captured at the captive site. The study suggests that the distance between the capture and release sites should be more than 20 km if the birds are not to return to the original site.