maya khosla

In May 2014, a group of scientists began conducting protocol surveys to investigate rare black-backed woodpeckers, which are native to California. It was the beginning of a long-term study across sites randomly selected by Dr. Chad Hanson, Director, John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute.

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The intact forests of the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascades Mountains are among the world’s most beautiful forests -and they have a strong history of fire. Black-backed woodpeckers are among the pioneers of forests that have been renewed by fires for millions of years.

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While they may scorch large patches, many trees charred by the flames remain alive at the crown. They flush with new growth soon after the burn. However, post-fire forests are routinely harvested for “salvage logging,” and are highly threatened habitats. Black-backed woodpeckers are on the decline and have recently been petitioned for special status species listing.