SummaryCyclonic storms (often called hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones) often cause population declines in vulnerable bird species, and the intensity of these storms appears to be increasing due to climate change. Prior studies have reported short-term impacts of hurricanes on avifauna, but few have examined long-term impacts. Over two decades (1993–2018), we periodically surveyed a subspecies of West Indian Woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris nyeanus on San Salvador, a small island in The Bahamas, to determine its distribution on the island, habitat use, and effects of hurricanes on abundance and population size. We conducted passive and playback surveys, supplemented with mist-netting. Woodpeckers were found only in the northern part of San Salvador, despite extensive surveys throughout other accessible areas of the island. Birds occupied areas with taller coppice adjacent to sabal palm Sabal palmetto groves, which were used for nesting. After hurricanes with >160 kph winds passed over San Salvador, woodpecker densities declined to 35–40% of pre-hurricane densities, but generally recovered back to pre-hurricane densities within 2–3 years. Based on an estimated density of woodpeckers within a ~1,400 ha occupied area, we calculated a population size of approximately 240 individuals (CI = 68-408). However, the population declined to far lower numbers immediately following hurricanes. Under IUCN Red List criteria, M. s. nyeanus classifies as ‘Critically Endangered’, and could be especially sensitive to future hurricanes if they occur at a high enough frequency or intensity to prevent the population from rebounding. Given the small size, isolation, and vulnerability of this population, we recommend preservation of the core habitat, continued monitoring, and further research. Our study shows that small, threatened bird populations can be resilient to the effects of hurricanes, but increased intensity of hurricanes, in combination with other threats, may limit this resilience in the future.

中文翻译：

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飓风过后的复原力：二十年来极度濒危的西印度啄木鸟 Melanerpes superciliaris nyeanus 种群的波动

摘要气旋风暴（通常称为飓风、台风或旋风）通常会导致脆弱鸟类的种群数量下降，并且由于气候变化，这些风暴的强度似乎正在增加。先前的研究报告了飓风对鸟类的短期影响，但很少有人研究长期影响。二十多年来（1993-2018），我们定期调查西印度啄木鸟的一个亚种纤毛黑线虫在巴哈马的一个小岛圣萨尔瓦多，确定其在岛上的分布、栖息地的利用以及飓风对丰度和人口规模的影响。我们进行了被动和回放调查，并辅以雾网。啄木鸟只在圣萨尔瓦多北部被发现，尽管对该岛其他可到达的地区进行了广泛的调查。鸟类占据了靠近 sabal 棕榈树的较高灌木丛的区域萨巴尔棕榈用于筑巢的小树林。在风速大于 160 公里/小时的飓风掠过圣萨尔瓦多后，啄木鸟的密度下降到飓风前密度的 35-40%，但通常会在 2-3 年内恢复到飓风前的密度。根据大约 1,400 公顷占用区域内啄木鸟的估计密度，我们计算了大约 240 只个体的种群规模 (CI = 68-408)。然而，在飓风过后，人口数量立即下降到低得多的水平。根据 IUCN 红色名录标准，小姐。尼亚努斯被归类为“极度濒危”，如果它们以足够高的频率或强度发生以防止人口反弹，则可能对未来的飓风特别敏感。鉴于该种群规模小、孤立和脆弱，我们建议保护核心栖息地、继续监测和进一步研究。我们的研究表明，受威胁的小型鸟类种群可以抵御飓风的影响，但飓风强度的增加与其他威胁相结合，可能会在未来限制这种恢复力。