Texas Fauna Project

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

See Full Interview Transcript

Craig Rudolph, Ph.D., served as a research ecologist at the U.S. Forest Service's Southern Research Station in Nacogdoches, Texas, for over 30 years. During his tenure there, he studied the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker's behavior and helped develop restoration strategies for the bird. One thing that he realized is that the bird's recovery required growing stands of 100-year old trees, a long-term challenge that is difficult to meet on private property, where ownership can change rapidly.