Texas Fauna Project

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

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Sarah Mitchell, based in Austin and trained in physical geography and remote sensing, is the executive director of Cook's Branch Conservancy, near Montgomery, Texas. The Conservancy manages over 5600 acres that is home to one of the largest red-cockaded woodpecker colonies on private lands. Here she describes the process of removing the forest mid-story, doing selective logging, and introducing prescribed fire to help restore the habitat for the woodpecker and other species.