Breeding Status of the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) in Gayasan National Park

This study was conducted from April 2012 to June 2012 to analyze breeding status of Black woodpeckers (Dryocopus martius) in the Gayasan National Park. Nest height, tree diameter which a nest built and altitude at the nest site of Black woodpeckers were 17.4 m, 63.8 cm and 587 m, respectively. A pair of Black woodpeckers completed a clutch in 4 eggs on 7 May and 3 of eggs hatched on 24 May 2012. Both female and male incubated eggs and never left eggs without one of parents. A male more contributed to build a nest than a female. Incubation duration was higher in a male than in a female. Nestlings made a begging call in a nest during the growing period. Begging frequency of nestlings increased from 11 days up to 20 days after hatching. After then, nestlings reduced begging and fledged a nest 24 days after hatching. This study provided information of breeding ecology to protect and manage population of Black woodpeckers which are endangered species in South Korea.