Effects of breeding density on the behaviour and reproductive success of cavity nesting birds

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Many species of birds and mammals use tree holes for nesting. Secondary cavity users compete for nesting holes created by excavators such as woodpeckers which are the called the primary cavity excavators. The types of resources (tree substrates) and characteristics of cavities used by different species of cavity-nesters have been well described. However, there is a poor understanding of how intra- and inter-specific competition for nest sites influence the settlement patterns, nest spacing on the landscape, and the reproductive success of cavity-nesting birds in forests. Studying the consequences of breeding density is important because many habitats are becoming more fragmented, for example as a result of forest harvesting. As a result, densities may increase in the remaining habitat patches, and birds may be forced to interact more with one another.