Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna density and habitat association in a potential stronghold in northern Thailand
Issued Date
2022-06-14
Resource Type
ISSN
09592709
eISSN
14740001
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85106147917
Journal Title
Bird Conservation International
Volume
32
Issue
2
Start Page
301
End Page
312
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Bird Conservation International Vol.32 No.2 (2022) , 301-312
Suggested Citation
Techachoochert S., Gale G.A., Khudamrongsawat J., Safoowong M., Round P.D. Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna density and habitat association in a potential stronghold in northern Thailand. Bird Conservation International Vol.32 No.2 (2022) , 301-312. 312. doi:10.1017/S0959270921000162 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/83208
Title
Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna density and habitat association in a potential stronghold in northern Thailand
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
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.